A dual threat: The Steelers defense will face a tough challenge this week now that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is back at the helm in their offense.
Highlight photos from the last regular season match up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers in 2010. The Steelers defeated the Panthers 27-3.
Newton was injured in the third game of the preseason, suffering a hairline fracture to his ribs, and missed the Panthers first regular season game. He triumphantly returned last week to lead the Panthers to a 24-7 win over the Detroit Lions.
"Cam has always been a pocket passer," said safety Mike Mitchell, who played with Newton in Carolina last season. "He wants to beat you from the pocket. He just happens to be an extremely gifted athlete that can run. But Cam is definitely a pocket passer."
It's Newton's dual threat, that of a passer and someone who can break free and make a play with his legs, the Steelers will have to be alert for.
"Cam is a tremendous athlete," said linebacker Jarvis Jones. "He can throw the ball down the field. He has some players who can make plays. He can tuck the ball and run it himself. What you have with Cam is a player who can beat you both ways. Throwing the ball and he can run the ball. You have to be sound and play your assignment."
Proving his point: Lance Moore was ecstatic to return to practice on Monday after missing the first two games with a groin injury, but the wide receiver know he still has a ways to go. Moore feels he has a lot to prove to his teammates after not playing in a regular season game since signing with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
"I want to show my worth day in and day out," said Moore.
"I have been able to do it in practice, but being able to do it in games is a totally different thing. It's like the reward and I am definitely looking forward to that."**
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Fellow receiver Antonio Brown said having Moore in the lineup will definitely bolster the offense, and while he doesn't think Moore has anything to prove, he understands where he is coming from.
"I think as a competitor, and being somewhere where you aren't as familiar, and trying to make an impact you feel that way," said Brown. "We have a lot of confidence in Lance. That is why he is here. But as a man and a competitor he wants to try and gain the respect of his teammates by going out and helping us win."
