Quarterback competition
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Cam Newton led off every period for the third consecutive day and completed 14 of 20 passes in team drills. His targets:
Jonnu Smith (3 of 3),
Nelson Agholor (3 of 5),
James White (1 of 2),
Damien Harris (1 of 1),
N’Keal Harry (1 of 2),
Jakobi Meyers (1 of 1),
Brandon Bolden (1 of 1), Matt LaCosse (1 of 1),
Gunner Olszewski (2 of 3),
Hunter Henry (0 of 1).
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Mac Jones went second in every period and was 8 of 18 with two dropped passes. His targets: Brandon Bolden (1 of 1), Nelson Agholor (2 of 4, drop),
Kendrick Bourne (2 of 2),
Kristian Wilkerson (0 of 1), Jakobi Meyers (0 of 2), Matt LaCosse (1 of 2), Gunner Olszewski (1 of 2),
Sony Michel (1 of 1), Jonnu Smith (0 of 1),
Devin Ross (0 of 2, drop).
• Newton rotated back in then hit Harry for a touchdown on a slant in another tight window against Virgin. He followed with a touchdown to Smith on a crosser against
Adrian Colbert.
• Jones tried to hit Meyers on a longer ball, but Meyers couldn’t make the tough catch. It hit Meyers in the hands but would be unfair to call it a drop. Jones then felt pressure, stepped up and made a quick delivery to LaCosse for a touchdown on an out route to the right side.
• Newton finished strong by going 4 of 4 in the final period against the scout team defense. Agholor made a nice adjustment on a deep post to steal the ball from D’Angelo Ross for a 35-yard touchdown, then Newton hit Meyers on another post, Bolden on a screen and Smith on a drag route.
• Jones avoided pressure again by stepping up into the pocket and delivering a strike to Olszewski on a deep seam route. He then overthrew Meyers in the left seam, although Jones appear to get bumped on the windup. He then hit Michel on a screen but missed Smith on a go route against Colbert, who was in tight coverage.
• With the starting defense on the field, Newton hit Agholor for a touchdown in the left corner, LaCosse for a touchdown on an in-cut against
Kyle Dugger then missed Olszewski on a right corner route.
• Jones had a hard-luck 1-of-3 period. He couldn’t hit Olszewski at the left sideline in the end zone after everyone was covered, although Jones did respond with a perfect touchdown pass to Agholor on a post. But again, with everyone covered, he threw intentionally high for Ross, who was blanketed by Dugger. This has remained a theme over the past three days, with Jones unable to find an open receiver and making the conservative play to either outright throw it away or intentionally lead a well-covered receiver far enough that the pass would have two outcomes – either a highlight catch or an incompletion. Who knows how this competition will shake out, but the easiest way for a rookie quarterback to lose it would be a pattern of turnovers.
• Newton took one more pass at the end of the period and misfired to Henry, who might have run the wrong route because he wasn’t close to the pass then hit the deck for push-ups.
• Newton finished strong for the second day in a row with a 4-of-5 period to end it. He hit White in the left flat, found a leaping Agholor for a terrific catch in the back of the end zone against J.C. Jackson, then Olszewski with a perfect ball in the right corner of the end zone against Jon Jones and Olszewski again on a left out. Newton’s final throw was intentionally high in the back of the end zone for Harry, who was draped by Jackson.
• Another theme: Jones took a quick sack when the line was immediately swarmed by the pass rush. He had no chance. Jones then hit Bourne for a touchdown on a post against
Myles Bryant, had a crosser for LaCosse broken up by Dugger, a drop by Ross on a slant and a bid for Agholor broken up by Michael Jackson in excellent coverage.
• Newton was overall the better quarterback because he got the results. He only had one true shank, although his downfield accuracy was spotty. Still, Newton made five terrific throws and was more consistent.
• Jones’ numbers were worse than the overall performance. He also made five grade-A throws, including two when he stepped up to avoid the rush, and he was quick with his decisions and release. He was bitten by two dropped touchdowns, had five incompletions when no one was open and had the better downfield accuracy of the pair.
• Newton maintains a slight lead over Jones through three practices.
• Newton and Agholor finally found a rhythm. Newton was 1 of 4 when targeting him in minicamp, and they missed their first three attempts of training camp before hitting their last three Friday, all of which were touchdowns. After practice, Newton noted the importance to get some passes to Agholor on film to build their chemistry.
• Newton is still just 3 of 9 with an interception while targeting Henry. After a good burst to close Thursday’s practice, Newton missed his only target to Henry on Friday.
• Newton has been locked in with Smith, as they’ve connected on 5 of 6 balls in camp.
• Jones has been particularly fond of Bourne, as they’ve been a perfect 6 of 6 together.
• The rookie hasn’t had as much of a chance to work with the top tight end tandem. He hasn’t targeted Henry in camp and is 0 of 2 with Smith.