Cam Newton explains how he’s overcoming the struggles from 2020 season
The 2020 season was difficult for the New England Patriots.
Having a 7-9 record was a positive considering all the wild and unpredictable circumstances at hand. Tom Brady’s departure was a huge blow to the team, but having no offseason to recover amplified it. Cam Newton came in with sky-high expectations and he didn’t get any time to learn a system that was built over decades.
This year is much different and the 32-year-old has a chance to learn this offseason, while carrying the knowledge from 2020 over. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Newton detailed growth and perspective he’s had.
“I have a constant note that I remind myself each and every day,” Newton said, transcribed by NESN. “‘Pre-snap comfort will help post-snap results for me.’ Last year, Josh (McDaniels), you know, Josh’s system was something that has worked for decades and decades. So, for me, it was up to me to kind of learn it as much as possible. And I’m so grateful to have another opportunity to learn it as much as I possibly can.”
Looking back to last year, the lack of instinctual knowledge was too much to overcome.
“In the latter part of the season, it just caught up to me,” Newton continued. “I was thinking too much, I was trying to be something when it just wasn’t enough hours in the day, you know what I’m saying? And it’s not like we weren’t working. Jedd (Fisch) at the time, our quarterback coach, was putting in hours and hours and you know, you can’t simulate real, live bullets, and that’s what it came down to. It wasn’t anything as far as mechanics, it was more or less overthinking and the comfort level.”
He found himself apologizing after mistakes, but this isn’t the way Newton plans to maneuver during the 2021season.
“My faults, my bads, I’m going to get them next time — those are slowly but surely being flushed out of my vernacular,” Newton said. “And just the expectation of getting back to the standard of The Patriot Way is important for me to uphold. That’s the standard.”
Newton has held a high level of respect for rookie Mac Jones, but he also acknowledged that he has to compete for his role, with something to prove this year.
“Double-duh,” the 32-year-old said. “Yeah. It’s only 32 guys in the world that can say they are a starting quarterback in this league. … I have a job and responsibility to myself to hold myself to a standard that I know I have to play at. It is going to come with proper preparation, and that is what it’s coming down to. It’s going to come down to comfort of understanding the system.”
Newton’s in a much better place this season with a much better roster — time will tell if he can take advantage of it all.
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