The Giants hope Perry Fewell is right about Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
“I think he just gets better as the weeks go on,’’ Fewell, the defensive coordinator, said Thursday after practice. “It seems like he’s somewhat of a slow starter. We watched him the last four games last year and he was on fire. I’m saying, ‘Wow, that’s a good offense, that’s a good football team. Man, that quarterback’s really growing.’ It just seems like as the weeks progress throughout the season he gets better and better and better. Just in his play-action pass, his run, his decision making, he seemed more poise, he seemed in control of his offense.’’
The Giants want to see Newton stick to that script, as on Sunday they play in Charlotte, N.C., facing the Panthers in Week 3 for the second consecutive year. A year ago, the Giants handled Newton, forcing him into three interceptions and limiting his rushing yardage in an easy 36-7 rout.
Newton thus far this season hasn’t done much, completing 60.7 percent of his passes for only 354 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Panthers are 0-2 and have scored only 30 points.
Fewell said the Giants this offseason went back to school, studying tapes of college games to see how defenses dealt with the spread offenses and option quarterbacks that have now infiltrated the NFL.
“Tried to get ideas what coordinators and teams throughout the college ranks were doing to try to contain the option offense,’’ Fewell said. “The college game has now come into the NFL. It is somewhat backwards. I always think it’s healthy when you can have dialogue with someone outside the box and get ideas from them.’’
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Steve Weatherford has punted the ball 511 times in the NFL. Last week, when Trindon Holliday took one 81 yards, it represented only the second time a Weatherford punts has been returned for a touchdown. The first was by Devin Hester in 2007.
“I literally just had a crappy game,” Weatherford said. “I feel like I let my team down. I’ve been on this team for three years, and I felt like I’ve been consistent every single week, punt to punt. Once in a while you are going to have a bad punt, but that was a bad game.’’
Coach Tom Coughlin said Weatherford has “punted the ball better’’ this week in practice.
The Panthers got a bit healthier in their secondary, as CB Josh Norman (knee) and Josh Thomas (concussion) both returned to practice. They remain depleted, though, which is why they signed veteran CB Drayton Florence. … CB Corey Webster (hip) did not practice and was added to the injury report. It is not considered serious. Also not practicing: OL David Diehl (thumb), G Brandon Mosley (back), QB Ryan Nassib (ankle) and TE Adrien Robinson (foot).