The Facts: Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday, HC Ron Rivera said that the offense was always designed to get the ball out of Newton's hands faster but that it could become a reality thanks to the addition of running back Christian McCaffrey and hybrid pass catcher Curtis Samuel. "We struggled last year with [protecting the quarterback and putting playmakers around him]," Rivera said.
Diehards Line:
According to NFL.com's Conor Orr, the Panthers' staff as a whole deserves credit for consistently trying to evolve its offense around Newton. Their 15-1 run back in 2015 was the perfect storm of good fortunes, though it featured an entirely unsustainable offensive model. Newton's penchant for shifting into a power runner during various zone-read or option-type plays made it easy for opposing coordinators to focus on stopping him. The additions of McCaffrey and Samuel should help. The more options Newton has, the quicker he gets rid of the ball. The faster he gets rid of the ball, the fewer hits he takes (in theory). The fewer hits he takes, the longer Carolina has Newton on the field.