Cam Newton has five rushing touchdowns this year. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have one combined.
Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has unapologetically used Newton as the team’s goal line back, and that plan doesn’t figure to change anytime soon.
“That’s one place where it’s so compact that it’s hard to get good numbers and so with the quarterback as a runner your numbers even out so that you can get hats on hats a little easier,” Chudzinski said of the strategy.
Newton has 13 carries inside the ten-yard line. Stewart and Williams have three combined. This highlights what a unique player Newton has already become.
With most quarterbacks, you’d be worried about the punishment Newton could take in close quarters. But Newton is usually the one dishing out punishment on his runs.