Panthers star Cam Newton will present unorthodox challenge to Chiefs’ shaky run defense

At some point this week, Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson realized something.

No matter how hard their scout-team quarterbacks this week — Nick Foles and Tyler Bray — tried, they simply were not going to give the Chiefs’ first-string defense a comprehensive look of what they’ll face on Sunday, when the Chiefs, 6-2, take on the Carolina Panthers, 3-5, in a road test at Bank of America Stadium.

This has nothing to do with Foles or Bray, both of whom are honest-to-God pocket quarterbacks. Instead, it has everything to do with the freakish size and athletic ability of the man pulling the trigger for the Panthers, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player who the Chiefs say simply cannot be adequately replicated in practice, by anyone in the league — Cam Newton.

“I would rather have a running back back there, just so you can get the speed of it,” Johnson joked. “Bray’s not a runner, so he comes to you and you’re like ‘OK, you’ve got him.’ But in the game, you’ve got to get there a lot quicker. We do know that.”

So the Chiefs’ defenders, Johnson said, have put the onus on themselves to get the look they need this week to get ready for Newton, mainly by running to the scout team quarterbacks with increased urgency.

“We’re not giving ourselves the benefit of the doubt, like ‘Oh, I’ve got him,’ ” Johnson said of the Chiefs’ practice habits this week. “I’m assuming that this is going to be a little bit faster in the game, so you’ve got to read your key a little bit faster in practice.”

Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton knows that having a pair of pocket quarterbacks attempt to fully replicate Newton isn’t possible. But to be fair, even a mobile quarterback couldn’t completely replicate size, speed and power of Newton, who will be looking to run all over the league’s 27th-ranked rush defense Sunday, so preparing for the Panthers’ passing concepts with the big-armed Foles and Bray certainly isn’t a bad idea.

“We don’t have anybody — there’s nobody like him,” Sutton said. “You just try to see the plays (in practice) ... you don’t appreciate the speed and the power until you see the game.”

Newton, 26, was named the NFL’s MVP after a 2015 season in which he completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 3,837 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed 132 times for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns while operating in one of the most unique offenses in pro football, one filled with shotgun-heavy, zone-read concepts and designed quarterback runs that only work because of Newton’s unique set of skills.

“He’s probably the most unique quarterback in our league, maybe one of the most unique players in our league,” Sutton said.

For one, Newton has elite arm strength, so tight coverage in the secondary is necessary. He can a bit spotty with his accuracy and mechanics, but he can place balls into tight windows with ease.

“He can throw the ball extremely well without stepping into the ball — he’s got a great arm; he doesn’t need clean pockets to throw it like a lot of guys do,” Sutton said.

But where Newton really shines is on the ground, where his ability as a runner is elite, as well.

“He’s as good as any running back in our league, and he’s probably bigger than any running back in our league,” Sutton said. “They’ve developed a great system that probably could only be run by him.”

For instance, not only does Newton run all the zone-read plays every team does, he also has running plays designed specifically for him — something teams generally prefer not to do, in an effort to keep their quarterbacks out of danger.

“He’s physical, he’s tough, he’s talented, he can make you miss, and if he gets out in the open, it’s going to be hard to get him down,” Sutton said. “You’ve got to catch him, and that won’t be easy.”

Newton’s running ability also affects defenses by changing the numbers they have to put in the box. Typically when a team dials up a running play, the defense is worried about the number of blockers the offense has, while ignoring the quarterback, who is rarely a running threat. For instance, the Chiefs might put six players in the box if there are six blockers (five offensive linemen and a tight end) on the field. But Newton’s running ability forces defenses to commit an extra player to the run, which opens up the passing game.

“That’s why he’s getting more yards than the running back sometimes,” Johnson said. “It’s smart to use him that way.”

But the Panthers are 3-5, and while Newton’s nickname maybe be Superman, he is not invincible. Perhaps because of his rare combination of size and athleticism, defenders — particularly this season — have relished the opportunity to deliver big blows to him, and Newton has come to expect such treatment.

After the Panthers’ 30-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 30, Newton complained about the number of blows to the head and knees he’s received this season that have gone uncalled, noting that he no longer feels “safe” or “protected” on the field, and that it’s “taking the fun out of the game” for him.

Newton declined to make a similar proclamation after the Panthers’ win over the Rams on Sunday — in which he absorbed a few more borderline licks — but don’t think for a second he still doesn’t think he isn’t being protected by the refs like other quarterbacks.

“There’s no need to talk about what’s already understood,” Newton said on Wednesday. “I’m going to let people be the judge of what’s going on. I stated how I feel about certain things and I’m going to leave it at that.”

The Chiefs are aware of his feelings.

“I know there’s been a lot of talk about people hitting him in the head,” Johnson said. “He’s a quarterback, but he’s a quarterback that’s bigger than a linebacker and faster than a linebacker.”

Like himself, for instance. Johnson is 6 feet 3 and plays around 230 pounds. Newton is taller (6 feet 5) and heavier (245).

“And faster, too,” Johnson said, shaking his head.

So no, the Chiefs can’t afford to take it easy on No. 1.

“Trust me, we won’t be trying to take it easy on him,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to be aggressive with him, because he’s doing the same.”

For the Chiefs, that not only means attacking the mesh point — the area where the quarterback decides to hand it off or keep it on zone reads — but tackling much better, and showcasing much better gap discipline than they did in their 19-14 win over the Jaguars on Sunday, when they surrendered 205 yards in 32 carries to one of the league’s worst rushing teams.

If they don’t, and Carolina stays committed to the run, it’s going to be a long day for the Chiefs against the NFL’s ninth-ranked rushing offense. The Chiefs know this, which is why their defenders have taken extra care this week to hustle to the ball against the scout team quarterbacks, though neither resemble the freakish MVP candidate they’ll be charged with stopping Sunday.

“They’re a really tough football team, as far as running the ball,” Johnson said. “And they’re going to give us all we can handle.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 9:32 AM with the headline "Panthers star Cam Newton will present unorthodox challenge to Chiefs’ shaky run defense."