Cam Newton’s touchdown pass to Greg Olsen in the third quarter of the Carolina Panthers 29-26 win against the Indianapolis Colts was probably one of his most impressive throws of the entire season. On this play, Newton displayed advanced quarterback traits such as the ability to make correct coverage reads pre-snap, and the ability to manipulate opposing defenders in coverage with his eyes.

The box score stats might not always reflect this, but Cam Newton is no longer a "raw" and "unrefined" passer -- he’s quietly become one of the NFL’s most advanced pocket quarterbacks.

Let’s take a look at the play:

The pre-snap read is extremely important for a quarterback. He needs to scan the defense and know where the potential pressure might come from, and what type of coverage the defense is running in the secondary, whether it be man, or zone.

The Panthers come out with their two tight end package, which has been their most popular formation this season for both running, and passing the football. Tight end Ed Dickson is actually lined up at wide receiver at the bottom of the formation to start this play, but Newton will motion him into the backfield, to see what the cornerback’s reaction will be. If the cornerback follows Dickson, Newton will know he is in man coverage. If the cornerback backs off, Newton will know he is in zone coverage.

Why is Cam Newton doing this? Almost hidden in-line is his number one weapon, tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen will be running a go/seam route right down the field. Olsen is likely going to be the primary read on this passing play, but Cam needs to know if Olsen will be running his route against a zone, or man coverage defense.

Dickson motions into the backfield, and the cornerback, Vontae Davis, doesn’t follow him -- he simply tightens his alignment and backs off. There are some other clues that also indicate the Colts are likely running a zone defense on this play. Look at the alignment of the cornerbacks at the top of the formation – they are way off the line of scrimmage. This, combined with the single-high free safety hovering in the middle of the field indicates that the Colts are likely running a Cover 3 defensive shell, where the two outside cornerbacks are responsible for the deep thirds of the field, and the free safety is responsible for the deep middle of the field. Greg Olsen’s seam route is a Cover 3 beater because he’ll be running it right in-between the zone responsibilities of the cornerback and safety. If everything goes right, this play should be a touchdown.

The pre-snap reading is complete. It’s time to play.

To buy Newton some time, the Panthers keep Ed Dickson in the backfield to help the offensive line in pass protection. Stewart also chips in the backfield before releasing to run a quick checkdown route. Newton does a great job of freezing the middle of the field safety with his eyes (who has now actually cheated towards the two-receiver side, away from Olsen’s route).

Olsen runs free against the Colts zone coverage. Vontae Davis sees the free safety Mike Adams cheating away from the middle of the field, so he realizes he needs to carry Olsen down the field.

Olsen slightly adjusts his route towards the middle of the field, and is able to get some separation.

Newton now has Olsen in one-on-one coverage deep down the field. It’s time to make the throw.

The free safety Mike Adams is late getting back to Olsen, and Olsen is able to go up and make the catch. Touchdown, Carolina.

It has been incredibly fun watching Newton evolve as a passer over the past five years. Early in his career, plays like these in the passing game from Newton would be rare. It’s amazing how he’s now making these types of advanced reads and throws on an almost weekly basis. Cam Newton might not have the flashy stats, but the film is clearly showing that he has quietly become one of the most advanced passers in the NFL.

All images and GIFs courtesy of NFL.com.