David Newton: Shula Proving To Be The Right Choice

[mav1234]

Not true at all.  We may have had 6 points but we had well over 200 yards of offense in the first half alone.  If we don't drop those easy TD catches we are up big and cruising instead of pressing and throwing picks late.  The game plan was fine but the execution was not.

 

so what you're saying is the first half game plan was fine.

 

2nd half was terrrrrrrrrrrrible.

 

maybe cam was audibling into those long-developing pass plays, I dunno, but I think the coaching deserves some harassment for that.

[pantherclaw]

Shula has already proven to our best OC since Henning.

I'm glad he's finding success.

I don't expect the nay sayers to change their tune at all, til a championship is won.

Their choice.

[panthers55]

i think he is referring to in-game adjustments, or lack-thereof.  they repeatedly sent blitzes up the middle and we didnt account for them, whether it be lack of execution or strategy.  The playaction inside the five to me was his worst call of the year.

The offense has been a work in progress.  With each game and input from players and coaches the offense has improved and players have been playing better.  I am sure that Shula would say that he has learned and improved along the way. Isn't it more important to look at the current product instead of trying to nitpick about a previous game.  I think Arizona was not the disaster critics claim but I don't think that we played particularly well across the board and that would include coaches or players.  I certainly don't blame the gameplan as much as I blame poor execution.  Still I am very optimistic for the present and future.  I have seen enough to be very encouraged so far and think we will only get better.

[panthers55]

so what you're saying is the first half game plan was fine.

 

2nd half was terrrrrrrrrrrrible.

 

maybe cam was audibling into those long-developing pass plays, I dunno, but I think the coaching deserves some harassment for that.

Nope I am saying the game was a clusterfug that was caused by player errors when we could have buried them in the first half.  By letting them in the game they gained confidence and got some lucky turnovers in the second half.  We fell apart and couldn't score.    We were left to pass the ball against a defense geared to blitz against a line that was really struggling.  Not a formula for success in any case.

[hepcat]

Shula is the right man for the job because he plays ball-control offense.  When you've got the #3 defense in the NFL you can play ball control offense.  If they had Shula as the offensive coordinator in 2011, the Panthers would have been 1-15.  It works for the way they've built the team and I'm fine with it.  That, and Chudzinski was clearly coaching to get a HC spot and that just really sucks that we had to endure two years of that bullshit before the Panthers actually TRIED TO WIN.

[Cyberjag]

I enjoy reading David Newton's stuff, but the man may as well be writing for Panthers.com, as big a homer as he is.

 

Count me in with those who feel he needs to do his thing against a good defense.  I have been loving these past few weeks, but I miss the absolute confidence I had in my home team back in the early Fox years.  I think that Cam Newton is talented enough to make anyone look good, and if Shula can just bring that out then that's as good as he needs to be.  But it needs to come out against the great defenses, and so far we haven't beaten a team with one of those.

 

Of course, Atlanta doesn't have one either, which means Sunday ought to be a lot of fun. :)

[Semaj]

Why are we trying to judge the man on one game?  The Arizona game was hit and miss.  There is no perfect coach or coordinator anywhere.  Everybody makes mistakes.  But he seems to be learning and he is part of the reason we are 4-3, whether you guys want to admit it or not.  I like what he is doing so far.  We are beating the teams that we should beat and beating them handily, something I have never seen done in all my years as  a Panthers fan.

[footballisasport]

I know there are huddlers who say until we play NE and the Saints and San Francisco, we have proven nothing but I disagree.  Shula has built a real tightness in the offense making players feel important and valuing their input.  He is making in game adjustments that are working and being creative and innovative while keeping the core of running the ball.  I remember when one of the talking heads who knows offense said that he had never seen a tight end block and then go out for a screen pass like Olsen did.  He praised Shula for being creative.

 

I don't know how things will play out but I do know that Shula is the type of offensive coordinator that players will fight for and give it their all.  He does what few in the past have done, make effective in game adjustments.  And his game plans are usually great as demonstrated by our leading at halftime in every game this year. Of course the defense helps with that as well. Best of all this isn't Fox's conservative play not to lose mentality.  It is an aggressive approach to offense which he doesn't dial down once we get a 3 point lead.

 

Still Shula keep looking like a good hire.  I am glad Rivera did what many of us felt he should have done which is give Shula a chance.  So far it looks like the right thing to do.

 

They say it because they are the ones who would be the first to say it with other teams, who they deem not that great unless they play a supposedly more "elite" team.  

[Mr. Scot]

I enjoy reading David Newton's stuff, but the man may as well be writing for Panthers.com, as big a homer as he is.

 

Count me in with those who feel he needs to do his thing against a good defense.  I have been loving these past few weeks, but I miss the absolute confidence I had in my home team back in the early Fox years.  I think that Cam Newton is talented enough to make anyone look good, and if Shula can just bring that out then that's as good as he needs to be.  But it needs to come out against the great defenses, and so far we haven't beaten a team with one of those.

 

Of course, Atlanta doesn't have one either, which means Sunday ought to be a lot of fun. :)

 

Honestly, if the choice is between that and what we used to get on ESPN, I'll take it.

 

[wine-o and cheese-doodle]

I think Shula has finally taken Newton by the hand and spent that one on one time with him that he needed. Cam is not staring down receivers and his FW has improved. I'm happy with his progress and am surprised as well. One foot on the bandwagon.

[ed bell]

The

I think Shula has finally taken Newton by the hand and spent that one on one time with him that he needed. Cam is not staring down receivers and his FW has improved. I'm happy with his progress and am surprised as well. One foot on the bandwagon.

Finally taken him by the hand? He was Cam's QB coach the past two years... They have been and still are pretty tight. Never have been concerned about that relationship.

[panthers55]

The

 

Finally taken him by the hand? He was Cam's QB coach the past two years... They have been and still are pretty tight. Never have been concerned about that relationship.

 

The fact they had a great relationship and Cam wanted him was a factor in why he was hired.  Now if the statement that Dorsey took him by the hand and worked with Cam showing how to dissect film and defenses before and after the snap, then it might be correct.  I understand Cam crediting Dorsey with some of his progress this year as well.

[iamhubby1]

While Cam struggle the first 2 weeks, the Offense still moved the ball. Since Cam's revival against the Giants, we have moved the ball with aggressive precision. Shula has this O dialed in nicely. And he deserves the credit for doing so.

Shula got the job by convincing Rivera that his plan for the O would work. His relationship with Cam was a factor. But his plan won him the job. And his plan is coming together very well.

[Raleighcat83]

It would be almost impossible to draw up an easier offense to defend with this group of players. Horribly predictable and uncreative. Seems designed to mak the quarterback look as bad as possible by minimizing his strengths and accentuating his weaknesses. Just awful.