Shula is sticking around for awhile

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

shula keeping his job because the defense is so fuging good... i've seen this before!

[cranky]

This organization needs to start aiming higher.

 

I agree! 11-4 is not nearly good enough, going 16-7 over their last 22 games is not good enough, having one of the best 3rd down conversion rates isn't good enough and having one of the best red zone offenses isn't good enough. I don't care that they have accomplished all this with a mediocre receiving group and patchwork OL. I also do not care that in Shula's first year Newton has had 4 last minute scoring drives whereas he had 0 in his previous two. I know some people would look at all this and see a group who is overachieving but we both know the truth.

 

If they would only aim higher.

[MadHatter]

I agree! 11-4 is not nearly good enough, going 16-7 over their last 22 games is not good enough, having one of the best 3rd down conversion rates isn't good enough and having one of the best red zone offenses isn't good enough. I don't care that they have accomplished all this with a mediocre receiving group and patchwork OL. I also do not care that in Shula's first year Newton has had 4 last minute scoring drives whereas he had 0 in his previous two. I know some people would look at all this and see a group who is overachieving but we both know the truth.

If they would only aim higher.

Exactly.

Some people just don't get it and continuously show us really how ignorant and blind they are.

[footballisasport]

http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/3375/why-newton-is-mike-shulas-favorite-player

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton has a little bit of Jolly Old St. Nick personality in theCarolina Panthers' huddle when it comes to keeping the situation light and fun. 

But according to left tackle Jordan Gross, his quarterback wasn't his normal "jovial'' self on Sunday when he stepped into the huddle with 55 seconds left and the Panthers trailing New Orleans 13-10. 

 

[+] Enlarge

Jeff Siner/Getty ImagesPanthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula said he appreciates Cam Newton's willingness to learn.

He was focused. 

But then Newton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left and he was jovial again. He typically is, even in the most stressful situations. 

It's part of what makes him so good. 

Nobody is a bigger Newton fan than offensive coordinator Mike Shula. 

"Don't tell him this, but he's probably the most favorite guy I've ever coached. Although I said that before and I got a text from David Garrard, 'What do you mean by that?'" Shula said of Garrard, whom he coached at Jacksonville. 

Here's what Shula means. 

"He's fun because he's full of life,'' Shula said of Newton. "He loves football. His personality ... he's a sponge. You can get on him, and it doesn't bother him. He doesn't have an ego that way. 

"That just brings energy to you as a coach, just to get yourself motivated. Here's a guy that is going to continue to get better and better as long as you push him and he pushes himself. He learns from his mistakes and he has a lot of fun along the way doing it.'' 

Shula can go on and on about Newton. He likes him that much. You can see it. You can hear it. 

"He loves winning and he doesn't care how he wins,'' Shula continued. "He just wants to win.'' 

Newton can be truly amazing at times, particularly when he's improvising with his feet. But few things he has done was more spectacular than his 37-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr. on a crossing route to start Sunday's game-winning drive. 

The first pick of the 2011 draft stood as tall in the pocket as you'll ever see, ignoring defenders grabbing at him from all sides -- including one that had so much of his hand in Newton's face that the quarterback was almost throwing blindly. He patiently waited for Ginn to pop open. 

Then he threw a bullet that hit Ginn in stride and enabled him to pick up another 10 or so yards before running out of bounds to stop the clock. 

"It probably ranks up higher [than most plays] because of the timeliness of it,'' Shula said. 

The play helped Carolina to its 10th win in 11 games. It locked up a playoff spot and put the Panthers (11-4) in position to win the NFC South and a first-round playoff bye on Sunday in Newton's hometown of Atlanta. 

You might say the focused-but-jovial Newton helped give Carolina an early Christmas present.

 

Amazing!! the things  Shula is saying about Cam doesn't sound anything like what the media is pushing, How come? Even more, this article is from a sport organization that has made it their habit to push the other image of Cam.

 

I told you folks. You ask every coach about Cam and they will tell you pretty much the same thing.

[footballisasport]

I agree! 11-4 is not nearly good enough, going 16-7 over their last 22 games is not good enough, having one of the best 3rd down conversion rates isn't good enough and having one of the best red zone offenses isn't good enough. I don't care that they have accomplished all this with a mediocre receiving group and patchwork OL. I also do not care that in Shula's first year Newton has had 4 last minute scoring drives whereas he had 0 in his previous two. I know some people would look at all this and see a group who is overachieving but we both know the truth.

 

If they would only aim higher.

 

So what are you trying to say? It's good to believe you're team can give more. But are you willing to demand better receivers and O-lines for Cam or do you simply expect your team to do more with what it have?

[footballisasport]

am I missing something? Carolina has one of the worst offenses in the league.  Dont give Shula a pass because the defense is keeping carolina in games.  50% of his play calling is wtf?  Ive yet to hear why tolbert had 1 play the whole game against the Saints when rushing the ball was a priority in bad weather against a weak run defense.

 

They do??? Since when?

 

Also, I am amazed how so many are all hyping the defense while trashing the offense. I remember when it was the other way around, many of you were screaming and demanding more from the offense, while making excuses for the shifter that was the defense for the past two years. I see how some of you folks think.

[mav1234]

I just hope Shula gets back to using Tolbert...

[Evengelion]

With Shula and Cam having this type of chemistry there is no way he will be gone. It is very exciting to see them mesh so well.

 

We just need weapons and a new right side of the line

Another winning season like this Shula will probably be up for a head coaching job. I think Cam will keep having OC every 2-3 years. He'll make them look great then they'll get HC job. The Cam factor.

[Evengelion]

am I missing something? Carolina has one of the worst offenses in the league.  Dont give Shula a pass because the defense is keeping carolina in games.  50% of his play calling is wtf?  Ive yet to hear why tolbert had 1 play the whole game against the Saints when rushing the ball was a priority in bad weather against a weak run defense.

Because we control the clock in most games those high powered offenses are rendered neutral. We're not scoring a lot of points and they are not scoring a lot of points because they're on the sideline. Our D is not on the field for a long period of time. This my friend is how we're 11-4. What can Cam do for you!

[Mother Grabber]

if he calls another wildcat run, I'll fugging drive to Charlotte and punch him in the fugging taint!

[ajax4132]

Another winning season like this Shula will probably be up for a head coaching job. I think Cam will keep having OC every 2-3 years. He'll make them look great then they'll get HC job. The Cam factor.

He would stupid, I feel like Shula can become a great OC but a horrendous head coach

[IGSaint]

am I missing something? Carolina has one of the worst offenses in the league.  Dont give Shula a pass because the defense is keeping carolina in games.  50% of his play calling is wtf?  Ive yet to hear why tolbert had 1 play the whole game against the Saints when rushing the ball was a priority in bad weather against a weak run defense.

 

The defense isn't the only reason why we are 11-4. If we were a statistically bad offense we would have a worst record and probably out of the playoffs right now. Does shula need to clean up his playcalling? Yes, but he has also made the entire team better by keep the defense off the field.

[carolina-chuck]

GOOD!

[FootballMaestro]

Maybe I'm crazy but it sure seems like our offense hasn't been so efficient in the last few weeks - is that incorrect, Tee?  I haven't looked at those stats, but ugh, it's seemed that way.

It hasn't. But neither has many other top teams this past weekend, or past few weeks (Seattle, Baltimore, etc.).