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The Patriots offense will be different in 2020 with the addition of Cam Newton. The real question is how different.
Trying to predict anything Bill Belichick will do is a tough proposition, but NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger thinks the 2018 Carolina Panthers could be a good example of what to expect.
“Well, I think it’s going to look a lot like it did at times in Carolina two years ago,” Baldinger said on NFL Training Camp Live. “I think you’ll see a lot of read options. I think you’ll see a lot of pre-snap motion. I think that the running game will be featured and defending Cam in the run game is going to be part of it, especially on third downs. You’re going to have to change your defenses the way that you have traditionally covered and gone after the Patriots with Tom Brady at quarterback because you’ve got to account for Cam. And so I think that’s going to be a part of it.”
“If you watch what Norv Turner did in 2018, they had a dynamic-looking offense before Cam’s shoulder basically fell off,” Baldinger said. “So, I think you’ll see some of that.”
in 2018, Newton put up the second-best quarterback rating of his career while averaging the second-most passing yards (242.5) per game of any full season he’s played. Over 14 games, Newton passed for 3,395 yards and 24 touchdowns, he rushed for another 488 yards and four scores.
Newton’s and Tom Brady’s skill sets are as different as two players who play the same position can be and the transition from one to the other will certainly be fascinating to watch.