Shula's offense taking shape

[jtnc]

 

CHARLOTTE – It took several weeks for the Panthers offense to get into gear and find its rhythm last season, and offensive coordinator Mike Shula is working to make sure that doesn't happen in 2013.

 

Shula spoke about the need to start fast as individuals and as a unit shortly after being promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in January, and he reiterated that message after the Panthers concluded minicamp.

 

"The biggest thing is the mindset of each guy not to wait on anyone else to get our offense jumpstarted," Shula said. "It's about taking it upon yourself to do that.

 

"We talk about not wasting any play, not wasting any meeting to get better. We try to make things game-like as much as we can in the offseason, even though we are in shorts. But you can build good habits."

 

In Shula's view, thinking fast translates into playing fast, and that's been a point of emphasis this offseason. The playbook's verbiage has been simplified to help that cause, but it doesn't mean the Panthers are sure to evolve into an up-tempo or no-huddle offense.

 

"Not necessarily," Shula said. "Execution is the No. 1 thing. How we do it? There are a lot of different ways to get there. We're working on those things.

 

"But we've got to be sharper and faster thinkers than the teams we're playing."

 

Shula said quarterback Cam Newton is a player who has improved his understanding of the game. He's also been impressed with Newton's drive for consistency before, during and after plays.

 

"Cam has made improvements every day," Shula said. "You are not going to be perfect, we all want to be every time we go out on the field, but the important thing at that position is the consistency.

 

"If things aren't right one play, forget about it, move on to the next one. Help your teammates be better around you. I think Cam has definitely made strides in those aspects."

 

Several of Newton's offensive teammates are locked in a heated competition to catch his passes.

 

The wide receiver position is currently a crowded one with free agent signings Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn joining a group of young receivers trying to separate themselves from the pack.

 

"Guys understand that they have to step up if they are going to make the team – it's just a numbers game," Shula said. "As coaches, you try to create to competition so you get the best out of your players. Now, all these wide receivers that are competing have to take the next step."

 

Training camp is next, and Shula is eager to see his offensive vision come together when the players put on the pads.

 

"We are going to be a balanced offense for sure. We can do a lot of things, and we want to present that to the teams we're playing," Shula said. "The ability to establish the mindset that we want will come in training camp. We're looking forward to it."

 

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Shulas-offense-taking-shape-/da707d63-9249-44c3-ad2a-339c2de99f77

Can't wait!

 

[TNPanther]

I think the main difference between Shula and Chud is the verbiage.

 

Shula will name a running play up the middle "Iso Right," whereas Chud would call the same play something like "24 Strong Left Handoff Right Running Back Quick Dive Right" or something stupid along those lines.

[jtnc]

The "no huddle" offense he's implementing is interesting....which means less substitutions.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I think the main difference between Shula and Chud is the verbiage.

 

Shula will name a running play up the middle "Iso Right," whereas Chud would call the same play something like "24 Strong Left Handoff Right Running Back Quick Dive Right" or something stupid along those lines.

 

Changing the verbiage is going to help us move faster.  Give Cam some time to read the defense.

 

My biggest difference is.  Chudz was so damn headstrong in the Read Option.  I felt Cam's frustration after the Giant game.  It obviously wasn't working like it did in 2011.   Why keep forcing it to work.  We had the tools to be a more conventional offense and still be a big play offense.  Running the offense out of the Read Option wasn't working. 

 

Once we made the change and had the RO as a play not a scheme we did much better.  Who knows what could have happened had he had our offense changed after the TB game.

 

Shula like the run, He'll use it to set up the pass and slide a Cam run in there to keep them honest.  I hope Shula is a better at game time adjustments than Chudz was. Cause Chudz stunk at in game adjustments.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Here's hoping it works.

[CarolinaCoolin]

I just want the season man. Football seems so long away.

[jarhead]

To me Chud led with the read option and Shula is using it as an option.

[MadHatter]

I love how Cam-detractors assume the lack of verbiage is because Newton possesses a low football IQ. This is the same guy who has learned and adapted to four different offensive schemes in the last six years.

Shula's offensive might actually be what the doctor ordered for Cam.

You are correct sir. It is those individuals that have the low football IQ.

Simplify the call in the huddle...minimizing the time spent there. That leaves more time at the LOS for Cam to read the defense and ensure the right play is called for the situation.

I love the balanced attack focus. We have the pieces to be a dangerous passing and running team. Throw in the dynamic aspect of Cam making plays with his legs and we are complete. We can exploit matchup a and dictate what we want to do.

[panthers55]

Chud not only ran most plays out of the pistol using the read option as a mainstay but he made the read option even more complicated which more decisions and options for Cam to make. Then he blamed Newton when he couldnt do it. Shula has not only simplified the verbiage but he has sinplified the options and allowed Newton to call audibles and run the scheme from what I can tell. Chud would have various options whiich would be run out of each formation and Cam had to make a number of reads on every play both before and during the play. Cam had too many decisions to make on every play which made him indecisive and slowed things down.Playing faster isn't just simplifying verbiage but simplifying concepts and simplifying various options so you can put everyone on the same page and allow Newton to audiblize instead of make the play account for every option and expect the players to all recognize the subtleties and make the adjustments on their own. In other words let Newton make the adjustments and get everyone on the same page instead of complicating the play options and expecting everyone to recognize what to do on their own. This difference is why early on last year Newton was supposed to not be allowed to call audibles and change the play and later on was allowed to.

[Zod]

Let's just hope he has learned how to manage a game and make half time adjustment. Improving the scheme is great, implementing it based on a strategy is more challenging.

[SCP]

Just win.

[frash.exe]

i just think if nothing else, as long as the offensive line doesn't perform like they're auditioning to play sam dawson for the first 9 games that'll greatly improve our season outlook

[teeray]

I realize that some of you hate the read option, but pace helps significantly at better executing the read option. The quicker we get to the line the better.

[FootballMaestro]

I love how Cam-detractors assume the lack of verbiage is because Newton possesses a low football IQ. This is the same guy who has learned and adapted to four different offensive schemes in the last six years.

Shula's offensive might actually be what the doctor ordered for Cam.

 

They don't ASSUME: This is how they want it to be, the only way they'd see it. Lol.