Carroll: Stopping Newton key to beating Carolina

Coach Pete Carroll says stopping Cam Newton is the key to defeating Carolina. (AP)

By Josh Kerns

The Seahawks’ defense is one of the NFL’s best, but they haven’t faced anyone like Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.

“He does things that are beyond almost comparison. He’s a fantastic athlete, he’s strong with the ball in his hands, he has a great arm and incredible accuracy particularly down the field,” coach Pete Carroll said Friday on his weekly KIRO Radio show.

According to Carroll, no other quarterback poses so many challenges because of his ability to beat you with his arms and his legs, thanks to his massive 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame. Carolina capitalizes on his size by running the option offense usually limited to college football, leading the Panthers to the NFL’s 11th ranked rushing game.

“There’s nothing that this guy’s not capable of doing, he causes all the problems in the world,” Carroll said. “We’ve got to hope that everybody plays well on our end of it to minimize his effect on the game.”

Carroll said the Seahawks also have to do a better job of taking some of the pressure off their own quarterback, rookie Russell Wilson. He’s thrown for just 594 yards in four games, among the lowest totals in the league.

“He has so much working around him that has to help so we have to play well, take care of business and stay out of the penalty issue and stay out of those long situations that make it so hard,” Carroll said.

Catch all the action as the Seahawks take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and 710 ESPN Seattle