Cam Newton has won is the 2011 offensive rookie of the year for the Associated Press.Newton got 47 of the 50 votes with Andy Dalton of the Bengals getting another three.

For most of the season it seemed like Newton and Daltonwere neck and neck for offensive rookie of the year. But Cam Newton won the offensive rookie of the year because he set numerous NFL records.  In most other years Andy Dalton would have won the award but Cam Newton clearly outplayed him.

Cam Newton passed for over 4,000 yards and rushed for over 500. In addition he scored 14 rushing touchdowns. Newton did have some turnover issues but most rookie quarterbacks do. Cam Newton played with poise for most of the season and set the bar for all rookie quarterbacks coming into the NFL now.

Since many Carolina Panthers fans wanted Andrew Luck we were devastated when he went back to college for another year. But clearly we owe Luck a debt of gratitude for giving us Cam Newton.

Considering that Cam Newton didn’t have the benefit of much offseason work with the Carolina Panthers due to the NFL lockout, his rookie season was even more remarkable. If Cam applies that same work ethic for his entire career we have a special quarterback indeed.

Cam Newton had one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback in NFL history. Cam Newton set a rookie passing yard season record with 4,051 yards also passing for 20 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions. I say only because typically rookie quarterbacks throw more interceptions than touchdown passes. Cam Newton’s 60.0 pass completion percentage was very acceptable for a rookie quarterback.

Cam Newton also set records running the football in his rookie season. Newton rushed 126 times for 706 yards and record 14 touchdowns. Averaging 5.6 yards per carry Cam Newton established himself as an elite scrambling NFK quarterback.

What impressed me the most about Cam Newton’s rookie season was both his poise and work ethic. Clearly Cam Newton didn’t try to get by solely on his athletic talent and was working hard with the coaches to get better. I only remember Newton getting visibly frustrated a couple of times as a rookie and that is impressive.

Considering that Cam Newton was mostly thought to be a project, he had a spectacular rookie season. Remember that due to the NFL lockout Newton missed a lot of training camp and off season passing schools and such.

With a full offseason of workouts and training camp under his belt look for Cam Newton to be even better during the 2012 NFL season. I don’t see Cam Newton having a sophomore slump next season.Newton’s work ethic and desire for greatness won’t allow him to slump.

If the Carolina Panthers can solidify their defense then Cam Newton and the offense will have the team in playoff contention in 2012. I expect the Panthers to be Super Bowl contenders in 2013 with Cam Newton being a great leader and NFL quarterback.

Thanks to Cam Newton the future is bright indeed for the Carolina Panthers. For the first time we have a true franchise quarterback and one that eyes all over the country will be on.Newtonand the Carolina Panthers offense will earn the team some primetime games next year so fans in other markets can see him play.

Cam Newton should be the 2011 NFL rookie of the year. Both Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson are having nice rookie seasons but Cam Newton is the best rookie in the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers were a terrible team until Cam Newton became the starting quarterback. Now the Panthers offense is a force to be dealt with and not many teams wan to face Newton, rookie or not.

In his rookie season Cam Newton has had his struggles but that is expected of any rookie quarterback. Added to this is the fact that due to the NFL lockout Cam Newton didn’t have the offseason camps that players get in typical seasons.

Cam Newton should be rookie of the year for the NFL records he has set if nothing else. Cam Newton set the rookie quarterback rushing touchdown record then the quarterback rushing touchdown record in 2011.Newton also had a couple of 400 yard passing games including one against the currently undefeated Green Bay Packers.

Through 13 games (I am writing this during the Texan game) Cam Newton has 3,573 yard passing with 15 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. Cam Newton is completing almost 60 percent of his passes. Cam Newton has also rushed for 554 yards and 13 touchdowns and even caught a 27 yard pass.

Cam Newton should be rookie of the year not only for his passing and running but his football smarts. Clearly Newton is working hard and playing smart .Newton does not just take off and run he looks to pass when the play breaks down. Newton is also getting better about sliding to avoid injury.  

Andy Dalton is Cam Newton’s biggest competition for the 2011 rookie of the year honor. Dalton only has 2,833 passing yards but his 18 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions does give him one advantage over Cam Newton.  But in overall play I believe Cam Newton deserves rookie of the year over Andy Dalton.

Thanks for checking out my report card for Cam Newton at the halfway point of his rookie season. I will cover several aspects important for a NFL quarterback and give Cam Newton a grade for each one.

I am writing this Cam Newton report card during the Carolina Panthers bye week. At this point after eight NFL games Cam Newton has the following stats. 174 completions out of 287 passes for a 62.9 completion percentage. Cam Newton has 2,393 passing yards and has 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Cam Newton has also rushed for 319 yards with a 5.1 yards per rush average and seven touchdowns.

Cam Newton Report Card- Accuracy

Accuracy is perhaps the most important thing for a quarterback to have. Cam Newton’s accuracy was much in question and with good reason. Even in the Carolina Panther’s preseason he passes were a little on the wild side.

But during the regular season Cam Newton’s accuracy has been much improved.Newton still throws the occasional wild pass but nothing like his preseason action. Nine interceptions very acceptable at the halfway point of a quarterback’s rookie season.Newton’s 62.9 passing completion percentage is nice and does not count dropped passes that would raise his marks. This Cam Newton report card gives him a solid B for accuracy so far.

Cam Newton Report Card- Knowledge of the offense

Ok I am a blogger and not a coach or ex player so it’s hard for me to know for sure Newton’s knowledge of the offense. But I don’t recall seeing Newton throwing to spots where no player is which would indicate he or the receiver made a mistake on the play.

The Carolina Panthers offense has incorporated some spread offense aspects and Newton seldom looks confused with something in the offense. I give Cam Newton a B+ in his knowledge of the Panthers offense.

Cam Newton Report Card- Football IQ

For a rookie quarterback who had no passing camps and little training camp time Cam Newton’s football knowledge appears vast.Cam needs to check down a little more than he does but still shows he will do that. What I love abou tCam is that he runs and looks to throw rather than just running to gain yards. Few mobile rookie quarterbacks do this; they sense the rush and take off. I give Cam Newton’s football knowledge a B in this report card.

Cam Newton Report Card- Turnovers

Cam Newton’s nice interceptions are acceptable for a rookie quarterback, especially since he has more touchdown passes than picks. However Cam Newton carries the ball loose and has four fumbles. Cam Newton needs to hang onto the football but he will improve on that. On turnovers I give Cam Newton a C+.

Cam Newton Report Card- Overall Grade

I give Cam Newton a B on his report card for the halfway point of the 2011 NFL season.Newtonhas surpassed all expectations so far in his rookie season. The Carolina Panthers finally have a franchise quarterback, and one that will improve each year. Check me out on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/NFLPanthersSB

Thanks for checking out my preview of the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. In this preview I will give the keys for the Panthers to defeat the Saints.

The biggest key for the Panthers to beat the Saints is for Carolina to limit penalties and turnovers. So far this season the Panthers have been in every game but tend to stall in the “Red Zone” or commit a penalty. The Panthers need to limit the mistakes against this Saints team that can outscore anyone.

The running game looked better against the Bears last week and needs to against the Saints as well. The more time the ball is in Cam Newton’s hands and not Drew Brees, the better for Carolina.

Darren Sproles scares the heck out of me both as a runner and a returner. The Panthers struggle to stop the run and also returns on special teams. Jermale Hines and Antwan Applewhite were added to the roster mostly to help special teams. Sean Considine and George Selvie were released to make room.

The Panthers currently rank third in total offense and also in passing but 17^th in rushing the ball. The Panthers defense ranks 14^th in yards given up per game. Unfortunately the Panthers rank 31^st in run defense but do rank sixth in passing defense despite all the injuries.

Carolinawill welcome Chris Gamble back from a concussion but may lose Jeremy Shockey to the same condition for the Saints game. Other than that the Panthers are fairly healthy heading into this game.

The Panthers staff must try to slow the game down for Cam Newton. Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams will be showing all kinds of fake looks to try to confuse the rookie quarterback. I do think the Panthers offense will be able to move the ball against the Saints.

The Saints offense under Drew Brees will be trying to run more to take advantage of the young defensive line of Carolina. The fact that Thomas Davis and Jon Beason are out for the year isn’t helping the suspect run defense.

To sum up my preview of the New Orleans Saints at the Carolina Panthers game, I expect a shootout! Steve Smith has found the fountain of youth and is the best receiver in the game for either team. I expect him to produce in a huge way but I fear the Saints offense will be too much this week.

Thanks for reading my preview of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers game to be played on Sunday September 25^th 2011 in Charlotte. This will be a battle of rookie quarterbacks as Cam Newton will be facing Blaine Gabbert of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Gabbert’s first NFL start.

In my preview of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Carolina Panthers I will explain what I think needs to happen for a Panther win. To check out some stuff on the Jacksonville Jaguars you can visit Roger Gonzalez’s Jag Journal.

There are three keys to the Carolina Panthers beating the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. And to be honest two are keys to winning most NFL games but this one in particular.

Key to the Panthers beating the Jaguars- Time of Possession

Both the Jaguars and Panthers have the edge over their opponents in time of possession during the previous two games in the 2011 NFL season. Teams with young quarterbacks like Gabbert and Newton need to win the time of possession battle. To do that it indicates a lack of turnovers and a successful running game for the offense. With the injuries on the Panthers defense this is key for a Carolina win. Beason and Davis are out for the year and Charles Godfrey will miss the Jacksonville game.

Key to the Panthers beating the Jaguars- Turnovers

So far in 2011 the Panthers are -3 in turnovers while the Jaguars are at -2. Whoever wins the turnover battle will also win most NFL games. With two rookie quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert playing, you can expect some turnovers. Turnovers often cause a shift in a game’s momentum and also can give your offense a short field to work with.

Key to the Panthers beating the Jaguars- Stop Maurice Jones-Drew

Maurice Jones-Drew has 185 yards so far in 2011 and is averaging a nice 4.4 yards per carry. Jones-Drew will be the focal point of the Jaguars offense as he can take the pressure off of Gabbert. The fact that Carolina is banged up on defense and letting opponents run for 4.8 yards per carry does not bode well for the Panthers stopping Maurice Jones-Drew.

I feel that the best chance Carolina has of stopping Maurice Jones-Drew is to get an early lead and keep it. The Panthers need to force Jacksonville into passing mode and make Blaine Gabbert beat them.

The Carolina Panthers must improve their Red Zone offense and capitalize on any scoring opportunities early to beat the Jaguars. My prediction is that Cam Newton and the Panthers get their first win of the season by the score of 27 to 21.

Thanks for checking out my preview of the Jaguars and Panthers game please feel free to leave a comment. All stats mentioned come from NFL.com.