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Panthers QB Newton a challenge for Bears

Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton has been nothing short of sensational in his first three NFL games.

In the season opener, he became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for more than 400 yards in his first start, when he passed for 422 yards in a 28-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. That also tied Matthew Stafford’s record for passing yards in a game by a rookie.

The next week Newton broke that record, throwing for 432 yards in a loss to Green Bay.

His numbers were less spectacular last week, but he threw the game-winning TD pass to former Bears tight end Greg Olsen in a 16-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Newton and the Panthers visit Soldier Field on Sunday.

“It’s amazing how much he’s progressed in the offense,” Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. “He’s loaded with talent, and he’s got an arm that’s unbelievable, but then you add the mobility to it and then the scheme.

“They’ve done some great things with this guy, and the wideout, 89 (Steve Smith), the tight ends (Olsen and Jeremy Shockey), they’ve got some real weapons.”

Newton also has run 25 times for 98 yards, but Marinelli says Newton’s not looking to take off at the first sign of trouble, as a lot of young quarterbacks do, especially those with exceptional speed and athleticism.

“I really see him as a passer — with the ability to get out of trouble,” Marinelli said. “He’s not just looking to take off and go; he’ll sit back in that pocket.

“He moves around; he’s got really good patience and poise back there. You can have that type of poise when you’re that type of athlete. You know you can get yourself out of trouble.”

Still, Newton has been sacked eight times, and he has thrown 4 interceptions to go with his 4 TD passes.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said. “They’ve done a good job protecting him, and he’s got some playmakers on the outside. We’ll see how he does against our guys.”

Quarterback’s best friend:Former Bear Greg Olsen is third on the Panthers with 12 catches, second with 169 receiving yards and already has endeared himself to rookie quarterback Cam Newton.#147;Greg is a person to throw to, and he#146;s a person to talk to,#148; Newton said. #147;He#146;s a person to get along with and most importantly a great human being and a great teammate.#147;He#146;s made himself accessible as far as what time we need to come in to get something extra, watching film, (working) after practice. He#146;s not a complainer, and he always has a positive mindset.#147;Anything that he can do to win, he#146;s all for it as far as a block, as far as a decoy, as far as a big catch. It shows come Sunday.#148;Olsen sometimes overdoes it when it comes to analyzing the game, but Newton appreciates the effort.#147;He probably thinks that he#146;s (a coach on the field), and he makes every situation bigger than what it really is,#148; Newton said with a chuckle.#147;In every game, Greg has a moment that everybody laughs at. He wants to change plays, and he overthinks it while we#146;re in timeouts, just talking, #145;What#146;s the play? Well you know Cam, If they give us this and ...#146;#147;So I#146;m like, #145;Greg, I#146;ve been practicing all week, I know this.#146; But he thinks he#146;s a coach off the field, which is a good thing. You need guys like that, and that just shows you his professionalism.#148;Mighty mite:Strong safety Chris Harris spent three years playing for the Panthers in between his two hitches with the Bears.So, even though he#146;s unlikely to play Sunday because of a nagging hamstring injury, the seven-year veteran has some advice for dealing with 5-foot-9, 185-pound wide receiver Steve Smith, who leads the NFC with 349 receiving yards.#147;Hit him,#148; Harris said. #147;Hit him hard. He#146;s a competitor. He#146;s a guy who is going to go up at his highest point to compete for balls.#147;He#146;s a scrappy little guy. He#146;s kind of like their emotional (leader) on offense, so you can#146;t let him get going early. If you can, get after him and try to rattle him early and not let him get the big plays down the field.#148;In January 2006, Smith practically defeated the Bears single-handedly in a divisional-round playoff game, catching 12 passes for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns.#147;I (still) see a dominant football player who plays hard every down,#148; Harris said. #147;I see the same player I saw back then. I know he#146;s dealt with injuries in the past, but he#146;s healthy now and he#146;s playing excellent football.#148;ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.