Sunday, December 4, 2011

A pass to Newton?! Really?

(UPDATE: Besides the pass described below, Cam Newton had one of the best games of his short career today. Newton had three touchdown runs -- all of a yard apiece -- and also threw a 19-yard TD pass to Legedu Naanee as Carolina crushed Tampa Bay, 38-19, for its second straight win).

It wasn’t a touchdown, but the Panthers ran one of their most notable plays of the season Sunday in the first quarter – one that will be sure to make the season-ending highlight film. It was a testament to creativity – one of those plays that looks like it was drawn up haphazardly in the backyard but actually had a lot of thought put into it.

On first-and-10 from the Tampa Bay 29, the Panthers put three receivers wide on the right. Then running back DeAngelo Williams motioned out of the backfield to put four receivers on the right. The defense made a corresponding shift.

Quarterback Cam Newton took the snap and immediately threw what looked like a screen to Legedu Naanee. But it was actually a lateral. The other three receivers blocked as Naanee, who was briefly a college quarterback, lofted the ball back to Newton.

Newton hauled in the first reception of his NFL career and took off behind a wall of blockers. He looked like he would score but didn’t, gaining 27 yards to the Tampa Bay 2. Carolina scored shortly after that to take a 14-0 lead.

Overall, it was a gorgeous play on a gorgeous afternoon – and the kind that bolsters offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski’s resume.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

TV coverage stinks. Whatever happened with the personal foul that had TB #92 leaving the field?

Anonymous said...

No I will tell you what sucks....Smitty's attitude when he does not get the ball!! Cam shouldn't throw him the ball for the rest of the game to teach him a lesson!!

oh there you go just got your answer on the lineman from tv coverage. lol

Anonymous said...

Smitty was pissed because he thought he was held.

Anonymous said...

Smith was pissed because Cam under threw the ball(you could hear his response to the pass from the ref's microphone). What he didnt see was that Cam's arm was hit as he threw it. Smith is a great receiver, I just wish he would shutup and quit whining when things dont go his way. There is no "I" in TEAM... Great game Panthers!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is specifically aimed at the Cam Haters: I've said it before....never been a really big Cam Fan, but he's dragged me to the bandwagon - 13 rushing TD's in 12 games AS A ROOKIE..being that the Cats get to host the Bucs on Christmas Eve Day, I'd say there's more than a fair chance Cam will shatter this record - AS A ROOKIE. Some things you can argue, but the numbers speak for themselves....This Young Man Has The Potential To Re-Write The Record Book...there's still 4 games left and who knows if next season will bring a "Sophomore Slump," but it's hard to argue that he hasn't made the Panthers fun to watch again...

Anonymous said...

No, Smitty said "Throw the F****** flag"

Anonymous said...

The Panthers took a page from the Wisconsin playbook Sat nite v. Mich State. Worked there, too.

Michael Procton said...

5:14-Who cares? Nobody should be impressed by what our QUARTERBACK does as a runner. Stewart and Williams could score from inside the four-yard line, too, but they want to stat-whore Newton so he can steal the Rookie of the Year award from a player who has contributed to a WINNING team.