Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera desires leadership from quarterback Cam Newton - NFL News Update
Carolina Panthers head coach, Ron Rivera, might not want much from his team than what they have already given him, but certainly desires one thing, which is leadership qualities in his rookie quarterback, Cam Newton.
He wants Newton to be more aggressive on the field and become a true leader of the team.
Rivera, talking to the Panthers' official website, said that Newton is now a veteran after a brilliant first season at the quarterback position and should take on more responsibility to keep the team focused on their tasks.
"I think the one thing is his leadership, just keep developing that, we always talked about how respectful he was to the veteran guys. He didn't want to step on people's toes or get in people's way", Rivera said.
The Panthers, led by Newton, could have been preparing for the playoffs, if not for a bit of bad luck.
The franchise had a record 18 players on injured reserve and their failure to finish off games in the second half kept them out of contention for a wildcard playoff spot, finishing the season third in the National Football Conference (NFC)-South, with a
6-10 record.
All things aside, Newton individually had a fantastic season and is in pole position to take the National Football League’s (NFL) Rookie of the Year award.
Newton broke record upon record in his first season as a professional football player and the feat becomes more impressive given the fact that the quarterback did not have a complete preseason preparation.
The quarterback had his share of critics when he first declared himself for the drafts but Newton kept his cool and did all the talking on the pitch.
Coach Ron Rivera could not have wished for anything more from his first round draft pick of 2011 NFL draft, who signed on from Auburn College.
Newton broke the NFL’s record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season with 14, while the quarterback passed for a further 21 touchdowns.
The rookie also broke Indianapolis Colts' quarterback, Peyton Manning’s rookie record for the highest passing yards as he covered 4,051 this season.
Rivera has run out of superlatives for his quarterback and simply stuck to praising Newton’s abilities.
"Mentally, he's getting the grasp of this offense. He's understanding defences better and better, and you're starting to see leadership come out of him. He's really taken his game to next level, and there's so much room for him to grow. He's got such a high
ceiling", Rivera added.
Newton, for his part, is not going to rest after a great 2011 season and wants to learn more to help Panthers have an even better season in 2012.
"I look forward to it and look forward to doing my part to make this an elite team", Newton said.
The Panthers will have many of their stars returning from season ending injuries during the offseason, and with Newton set to improve after undergoing a full preseason under his belt, Panthers are set to make a determined push for the playoff rounds.
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