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          NFL Nation

          Mailbag: Who is helping Panthers QB Cam Newton improve accuracy?

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterJul 25, 2015, 12:00 PM
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers report to training camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on July 30, and still many of your offseason questions surround quarterback Cam Newton.

          I found the one that leads off Saturday's mailbag particularly interesting.

          Let's get to it.


          @DNewtonESPN: Regarding being the face of the NFL one day, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson may have something to say about that. As far as having a former quarterback help improve his accuracy, it certainly couldn't hurt. Kurt Warner reportedly spent some time working with San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick during the offseason. We'll see how that turns out since few were more accurate than Warner in his heyday. Steve Young spent some time with Michael Vick a few years ago. Young in particular might benefit Newton because the Hall of Famer once struggled with accuracy as a running quarterback. Young's top completion percentage in his first four seasons was 53.7. That came in 1986 when he started 14 games for Tampa Bay. He was at 53.6 and 53.5 percent in his first two seasons at San Francisco, primarily as Joe Montana's backup. That doesn't make Newton's 59.5 completion percentage in four seasons sound so bad. Young rose to 69.6 percent in 1989. Between then and his final year in 1999 he never went below 61 percent. In 1994, Young completed a career-best 70.3 percent of his pass attempts. Young never ran as much as Newton does, but he can at least relate to what Newton is going through in terms of finding a balance between running and accuracy. Perhaps it would help. Perhaps it wouldn't. Regardless, Newton is trying to improve his accuracy. He spent extra time with quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey during organized team activities on getting his feet in the proper position and stepping into throws. The Panthers know for Newton to take his game to the next level his completion percentage will have to improve.


          @DNewtonESPN: It's not like Newton has been jumping out of planes or driving stock cars like cornerback Josh Norman has. He ran a few plays in a flag football tournament and participated in some practices with an Australian League Football team. From the video and pictures I saw from each, Newton wasn't putting himself at risk. I watched him catch a few passes during his foundation's 7 v 7 tournament during down time. He just as easily could have been hurt there, but you can't expect an athlete to simply do nothing the entire offseason. One of the reasons Newton is a top athlete is because he loves being active. That being said, I'm sure management has suggested Newton be careful and selective in his offseason activities. There's probably a clause in his new five-year, $103.8 million extension that limits what he can do. But the paranoia that you mention seems to come more from social media than it does from the Panthers.


          @DNewtonESPN: Not as long as team owner Jerry Richardson has a say in the matter. He was an All-American at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where Carolina trains. He is committed to keeping a presence in both Carolinas, and this is the best way to keep one in South Carolina. The Panthers signed in February a five-year extension to keep camp at Wofford, where it has been since the first season in 1995, through 2019. It's not a huge expense making the hour and a half drive. The facilities are second to none. There is an environment that allows the coaching staff and players to focus on football without the distractions of family and home life. I might be a bit biased, though, having graduated from Wofford.


          @DNewtonESPN: I'll go with rookie Cameron Artis-Payne. Fozzy Whittaker will be more of a third-down back. If starter Jonathan Stewart were injured today, Artis-Payne would be the player groomed to take his place. He proved in leading the SEC in rushing last season at Auburn that he can handle the load. And he's more of a power runner than Whittaker. That best suits Carolina's scheme.


          @DNewtonESPN: For those not aware, the question is about the battle between Brenton Bersin and Stephen Hill for what likely will be the sixth and final wide receiver spot. It'll come down to which player is the most consistent in training camp and which player develops the best chemistry with Newton. Bersin may have the upper hand since he and Newton had a pretty good chemistry last season. Newton knew, for the most part, when he threw in the vicinity of Bersin, the pass would be caught. The knock on Hill when he was with the New York Jets was dropped passes. From an athletic and speed ability, Hill has the upper hand. But if you don't consistently catch passes, you're not going to make the roster.