Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton Needs To Work On Emotions

To hear Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula tell it Cam Newton’s trajectory is now all based on emotion.

As the volatile young star preps for his third season, Shula told the Associated Press:, “Probably the biggest thing for him is maintaining that balance. Because everything around you during the football season is going to be up and down.”

Indeed, few questions remain about the former Heisman Trophy winner’s physical abilities, but at times cameras have caught Newton moping on the sidelines, and at one point during the season he and star wideout Steve Smith openly exchanged heated words over his non-stop sulking.

Newton wasn’t on hand for the team’s rookie minicamp, but he clearly he wasn’t far from Shula’s thoughts.

“The more you can continue to stay on top on an even plane and lead the group of guys around you, the more effective you are going to be as a quarterback,” said Shula, who added that Newton has long been one of his favorite players.

“You can’t substitute anything for the experience he’s gotten,” said Shula. “You are going to be better because of it. As we feel like we have guys surrounding him that are poised to have really good years.”

But the issue of Newton’s emotions remains. “We want him to make quick decisions and the right decisions and get the ball out,” said Shula. “That helps the receivers and the offensive line and keeps people off him. I think he’s gotten better each year.”

That seems a scary thought, given Newton’s early-career exploits. In his first 32 career starts, Newton has thrown for 7,920 yards and 40 touchdowns and run for 1,447 yards and 22 scores.

“You would be foolish to say you’re not going to use it,” Shula said of Newton’s versatility. “We’ll do things differently to keep things off balance.”

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