Article: Reinventing The Panthers Offense - Why Shula Needs To Get Smarter With The New Guys

[Saca312]

Just saw this article on twitter. It's a good analytical piece on what went wrong in 2016 and how Curtis Samuel and Christian McCaffrey pretty much gives Shula no more excuses for some of the pathetic playcalls he made last year.

Here's an excerpt:

http://twoqbs.com/qb-profiles/reinventing-the-carolina-panthers-passing-offense/

Quote

Quick passing has never been Cam Newton’s calling card. He is one of the worst passers in the league when throwing to the 1-5 yard range, according to Cian Fahey and his Pre-Snaps Reads Quarterback Catalogue 2017, ranking 32nd out of 33 eligible quarterbacks with a passing percentage of 76.9 percent. Only Matt Barkley at 71.9 percent was worse (Sam Bradford was tops at 93.33 percent). Beyond five yards, however, Newton is impeccable, and he can mask his poor accuracy in the short game with his downfield passing and athleticism. But that isn’t to say that short-passing shouldn’t be apart of his arsenal. Picking up quick yards can keep defenses honest and help move the sticks when defenses are blockading the run game.

The lack of effective quick passing from the Carolina Panthers isn’t all Newton’s fault. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula regularly forces Newton to push the ball beyond ten yards. Newton threw within five yards of the line of scrimmage fewer than any quarterback in the NFL, per Fahey, and even when the Panthers tried to play the quick game, the skill players failed their quarterback. There is more than enough blame to go around the building for previous seasons, but the Panthers offense has potential to improve in the quick game in 2017.

...

Now, with fresh skill players to work with, Shula has to be smarter in conducting the offense than he was a year ago. The Panthers can not roll out the same personnel packages that failed them in 2016. Far too often the Panthers either looked archaic with their heavy personnel or outsmarted themselves by running plays with heavy personnel that were doomed from the start. Take the play below, for example.

The situation is 3rd-and-3. The Panthers come out with six offensive linemen, two tight ends, a fullback, and a lone receiver split out left. Cornerback Desmond Trufant goes toe-to-toe with wide receiver Devin Funchess, a single-high safety plays over the top, and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons defense crowds the box. The Falcons have a defender for every gap along the line of scrimmage, meaning the Panthers are going to trust their blockers to win every one-on-one if they run the ball.

Shula calls for a pass, though, and it’s a poorly thought-out concept. Funchess runs a ‘comeback’ route in his solo effort versus Trufant, while the two tight ends run vertical routes to the right side of the field. Newton looks off Funchess, likely not feeling comfortable about that matchup versus an elite cornerback such as Trufant. The two tight ends are matched up without hesitation and fail to generate any vertical separation.

Through it all, the Panthers offensive line gets dismantled. Left tackle Mike Remmers gets put on spin cycle by Brooks Reed, and the right guard and right tackle get walked back into Newton’s lap. Newton has a rapidly collapsing pocket and no quick option to throw to, nor is there a checkdown option. It was a downfield-only call on 3rd-and-3 with a mediocre wide receiver and two tight ends. That can’t be the way a drive ends, especially in enemy territory.

Shula has no excuses. The Panthers drafted these two players to evolve, and Shula needs to show that will happen with his play-calling.

Thoughts?

[Ricky Spanish]

I have no doubt that Shula can orchestrate an offense that is maddening with pre-snap motion and misdirection.

I don't entirely trust him not to call a god damn screen on 3rd and 10 with Brenton Bersin being the #1 receiving option though.

Thus is the enigma that is Shula. He bakes a beautiful cake but it tastes like poo. 

[Tbe]

That play where Samuel motions from the slot to the backfield was pretty fun. I can see CMC doing that.

[Saca312]

Just now, Tbe said:

That play where Samuel motions from the slot to the backfield was pretty fun. I can see CMC doing that.

Yep. CMC can definitely do that. I actually went over a concept similar to that in this thread:

Another way to use McCaffrey is in two runningback sets. Take the following formation for example:

Imagine the backfield being Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, and Christian McCaffrey. Curtis Samuel is working the slot, Olsen on top perimeter, and Kelvin Benjamin on bottom. A whole host of mismatch opportunities have presented themselves on this play.

The Panthers could run with Stewart, bring Samuel in for a sweep, run play, or working the slot with his speed, let Cam take over, run with McCaffrey, or let him leak out of the play-action on as seen below:

The mismatch potential of the Panthers offense is monstrous. They could even replace Stewart with Samuel to add to the chaos, and place Russell Shepard in the slot. So many ways for the Panthers to foil defenses. McCaffrey's presence allows mismatches to be created.

 

[pepaw]

Incoming Panther 55

[UpstatePanther]

2 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Quote

Newton has a rapidly collapsing pocket and no quick option to throw to, nor is there a checkdown option. It was a downfield-only call on 3rd-and-3 with a mediocre wide receiver and two tight ends. That can’t be the way a drive ends, especially in enemy territory.

 

this has always been one of the most maddening things about Shula's playcalling. and its one of the only reasons im nervous about our offense this coming season. Shula has not shown the ability to correctly utilize the talent given to him. im hoping that with all these new pieces given to him, and the addition of Lance Taylor, he can finally put it together instead of seeming to eat crayons up in the coaches box. but i'd be lying if i said i wasnt nervous. 

that said, i am NOT worried about talent on either side of the ball. depth could be better at a few spots, but then again, maybe some of these 2nd and 3rd stringers will surprise us. if they do, this could be like 2015 where our team succeeded in spite of Shula on talent alone offensively, and leaning on a stout defense to make up the rest.

[tiger7_88]

5 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Thoughts?

HOW DAR U EMPLY THAT ANYBUDY BUT S/CAM NEWTUN IZ AT FALT HERE!!!

SINSERLY,

RETIREDCOLLEGERACIST

[uncfan888]

1 minute ago, tiger7_88 said:

HOW DAR U EMPLY THAT ANYBUDY BUT S/CAM NEWTUN IZ AT FALT HERE!!!

SINSERLY,

RETIREDCOLLEGERACIST

Throw in a wonder woman reference and you got it

[Snake]

People need to give Shula credit. He told Dave last year that the offense was going to fail if they didn't evolve and it did. This year Dave gave him what he needed. While the entire coaching staff needs game management training and Shula sucks at adjusting he has some awesome plays. We could sit back and run nothing but read options with Samuel and Cmac and still win games. 

[beastson]

That gif is depressing. 2 TE on one side, 1 WR on one side. 3rd and 3?

I'm going to give Shula the benefit of the doubt and say he has better players now, this won't happen

Right?

[panthers55]

I think Shula, Rivera and Gettleman all realized they had to evolve the offense and give Cam more help. And they did. The playbook has changed and now they will have to install it. They have also brought in some folks on the coaching side to help Shula. What people seem to forget with all of the Shula hate is that he is part of a bigger team that together need to improve the offense. I am excited to see what we come up with and am very happy with the additions. Honestly I am done with 2016 and all in with 2017...

[TheSpecialJuan]

I think the reason I most look forward to China ruling the earth is that all of their last names sound like slang for cock.

[Lumps]

so basically we hope they fill the hype and we have so many threats and mismatches Shula;s poor coaching won't matter

 

I mean I get it but would rather have competence

[falconidae]

Cam  is not impeccable past 5 yards. He's a very good QB, but his mechanics get sloppy and mess with his accuracy. Offense's struggles last year were certainly not all his fault, but some of it IS his fault.

Something I've been saying on the falcons messageboard I think I should say here is I think the transition for Cam to a new offense is going to be difficult and probably ugly for a while. If you look at some other QBs who made a transition to a new offense you'll find most of them struggled the first year or two. Eli and Big Ben, for example, both struggled in new offenses.

Not sure why the Oline is considered a strength by many on this board,I think signing Kalil is a waste of money- man hasn't been good for 4 years and was hurt last year. Assuming Oher is done,  Panthers lost the two starting tackles from the denver game last year. Think the Oline could derail anything the panthers want to do on offense.

Then, Samuel was not a WR in college-there's going to be a transition period for him. Cam was the worst last year at the exact type of throw he needs to make to make the new offense work. An underrated problem from the shoulder surgery is that Cam hasn't had a full offseason to both learn the new offense and to build a rapport with the new guys.

I'l be really surprised if the panthers offense comes out firing on all cylinders next year. Think it's much more likely they struggle as Cam [and the rest of the offense] learns to make the new offense work. If the Oline is solid, by the end of the season, Cam could be settling into the new offense and it could be deadly. If the Oline isn't solid,may be a long season for the panthers offense.