The first question in Cam Newton’s press conference today was about how Newton felt after an offseason filled with questions about his health, questions about his health, questions about how many reps he’s been able to take both at practice and in the preseason. But Newton only needed one word to sum up how he’s feeling.
Great.
The seventh-year quarterback has always held himself to an extremely high standard, and he has been doing the same this offseason, even though he hasn’t been able to get as many reps on the field as he would like. “I’ve been getting a lot of mental work. (There are) a lot of younger guys, more than year’s past that I’ve been more hands on with.” Newton said after practice today, “That’s allowed me to teach the game and learn the game even more.” His preparation and conditioning have changed this offseason, as he has changed his diet completely and it has allowed him to enter the season at his lowest weight in years. Coach Ron Rivera says that the weight loss and his conditioning have made him quicker, but Newton says it’s all for naught if the on field performance doesn’t carry over from the conditioning.
A lot is asked of Newton, but he knows that his role as a top-flight quarterback is to execute and utilize his weapons. He knows this new ‘evolution’ offense is dependent on his ability to take what the defense gives him; the rookies may get forced into the fire, but the team’s offense will be forged by the flame at Newton’s command. “It’s up to me to execute, just take what the defense gives me. It’s going to be different for me, because of certain things that are asked of me and the whole process going forward,” Newton said about his role in the offense this season. “But yet, I still see the sameness in our offense, it allows me to have more of a hands-on role and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“We’re just going to impose our will. We just have to play our kind of football; if we do that, then everything else will take care of itself. All three phases: offense, defense, and special teams. We know that there’s going to be some things that happen in this game just like any other game, but like Coach Shula always says, ‘Just handle the what-ifs, and stay on track.’ Whether turnovers, a sudden change, injuries or what-have-you, we have to be prepared to move forward and find any and every way to move forward and win this football game at all costs.”
While the offseason has been long and tumultuous, the regular season is now upon us. Storylines about Christian McCaffrey missing minicamps, Curtis Samuel’s tweaked hamstring, and Cam taking two weeks off from throwing are all in the rear view mirror. On Sunday in San Francisco, Rivera says there will be no restraints on Newton’s throwing and he will have a full compliment of weapons in an offense fans have been clamoring to see ever since Ron Rivera first used the word “evolution” following last season. When Newton was asked about what it’s going to be like to drop back and see options like McCaffrey, Samuel, Benjamin, and Olsen, the quarterback was again content to answer with only one word.
Scary.
To listen to the full audio of Cam Newton’s press conference today as well as Ron Rivera and an exclusive chat with Dezmen Southward, check the “Riot Interviews” on the front page.
