Shula: Tell me why this time it will be different

[scratchy1]

A lot of posters seem to feel that Shula's offense will be productive, if not prolific.  They cite the enthusiastic comments from players, particularly Cam.

 

I tend to be a student of history.  Here are Shula's offensive numbers as a coordinator and head coach:

 

Tampa (96-99)

Total offense: 28th, 29th, 22nd, 28th

Scoring offense: 30th, 23rd, 18th, 27th

 

Alabama (03-06) (head coach, but the team ran his offense and he had a lot of influence over OC Dave Rader)

Total offense: 79th, 94th, 67th, 65th (out of 117)

Scoring offense: 69th, 64th, 85th, 68th

 

In eight years where he has been directly or ultimately responsible for an offense, he has never hit even the midpoint of these two key metrics.

 

Some would say that with strong defenses at both Tampa and Alabama, the offensive philosophy was necessarily tailored towards ball control and conservative play.  Some would say that he was limited in terms of offensive talent.  Some would say he's never had a player with Cam's physical talent.

 

Those may be valid points, to a degree.  But here we have a guy who is almost 50 years old, doing something he hasn't done (indirectly) in 7 years and directly in 14 years.  Aside from Cam, he has (collectively) average talent at best, and he won't have the luxury of a defense that will allow him to just put 14 on the board and win a game.  It's illogical to me that he could be expected to be successful at it, because he never has been, regardless of whether he was ever really called upon to be successful at it.  In the NFL, gameday success doesn't fall into your lap in mid-life just because you can write a playbook.

 

So why will this year be different?

[Jakob]

Lets all go take our prozac and give the man a chance...

[Cary Kollins]

No one knows if it'll be different until we get into the regular season.

 

The point of promoting Shula was to give Cam continuity.  I personally would have preferred Norv Turner as OC, but that's not the way it worked out.

 

 

All we can do is hope for the best.

[hepcat]

Well, the fact that he's not coaching to be a head coach should help.

[TheRumGone]

I was hoping this was an interview of Shula telling why this time will be different, but no it is a Huddler bringing something up that has been talked about a billion fuging times.

[csx]

The most interesting part is that we'll find out and won't have to speculate about it. 

[frash.exe]

Don't have much of a choice but to sit back and see for ourselves do we?

[Peppers90 NC]

tampa - trent dilfer/sean king, no wr's and one-two punch with dunn and alstott as only viable weapons.  what did u expect?

 

alabama - head coach responsibilities are as much to do with recruiting as it is game planning.  head coach isn't the same as off coordinator.  the system here is in place to fit the personnel, but before i melt into a puddle of slime, we'll see how he does.

 

12th shula post, tell why is this one is different.

[philp]

Yea thread title is misleading. Was hoping for something else. Anyway, he's here and all we can do is wait and see.

[scratchy1]

Excuse me.  I should have noted (even though I thought it was apparent) that my post was directed at those who have maintained that Shula will be productive, not those who spend all day, every day on the board pointing out topics they've previously covered and don't wish to discuss anymore.

[Peppers90 NC]

Excuse me.  I should have noted (even though I thought it was apparent) that my post was directed at those who have maintained that Shula will be productive, not those who spend all day, every day on the board pointing out topics they've previously covered and don't wish to discuss anymore.

nobody knows, dont know what you are really expecting.  i dont recall anyone being overly excited about him getting this position, but at this point we dont have a choice and he deserves the chance.

[TheRed]

What'd you guys expect from someone with 178 posts?

Now that we have all these new mods, let's finally get that 500 post minimum thing going.

[Zod]

Hey I have a bunch of opinions on this....

 

 

 

I will keep them to myself.

[Zod]

lol Phil got stuck with Jimmy Clausen