NFL PLAYER NEWS

Panthers QB coach to Cam: ‘Checking down is OK’

The Sports Xchange

June 18, 2018 at 12:10 pm.

Cam Newton will have more flexibility to check down at the line of scrimmage in Carolina's offense in 2018. Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Cam Newton will have more flexibility to check down at the line of scrimmage in Carolina’s offense in 2018. Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach Scott Turner wants Cam Newton to make quicker decisions with the football this season.

In that light, Turner told Sports Illustrated that he’s fine with the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton dumping the ball off as opposed to holding out for the big play.

“With him, on every play, we want to make sure he has a plan and he’s following that plan,” Turner said. “And to know checking down is OK. A lot of Cam’s issues have come because he’s so talented that he thinks he can make every play work. And sometimes, it’s just not there, so you check down and go to the next play. By holding the ball, sometimes he takes hits or falls into negative plays.

“Making decisions quick, getting the ball out of his hand, that’s where, when he improves, the consistency will come. … We’re not trying to make him anything he’s not. We want him to be the best version of himself.”

The No. 1 overall pick of the Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft, Newton completed his seventh season in 2017, leading Carolina to the postseason for the fourth time in five years.

Newton, who was the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player, threw for 3,302 yards with 22 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions last season. The 29-year-old also rushed for a career-high 754 yards and six touchdowns.