Carolina Panthers

Should Mike Shula Be On The Hot Seat?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

We take a look at whether Carolina Panthers OC Mike Shula should be on the hot seat or not. Is he really the reason the offense has been good?

This past Sunday we watched Cam Newton take quite a beating. In all seriousness we all thought he was going to get hurt with how many times the Minnesota Vikings hit him.

More from Cat Crave

You would likely were waiting for the Carolina Panthers’ offense to run some quick passes to throw the Vikings’ pass rush off. That sadly did not happen and instead for the most part the offense ran routes 15 to 20 yards down field. So, as soon as Newton dropped back he had about two seconds to throw the ball on a good number of plays.

Do you really think anybody can run a 15 to 20 yard route in two seconds and get their head turned around to catch the ball? The answer is a big, fat nope.

Instead Newton had two choices: Try to stand tough in the pocket or throw the ball out of bounds over and over. Newton tried to stand tall in the pocket but that didn’t end up being great for the offense. It seemed as if the Vikings kept blitzing over and over throughout the game as it progressed.

But where should the blame be placed? Many blamed the offensive line. In reality when teams blitz like the Vikings did the offensive line can only do but so much to stop it.

Most teams will draw up screen passes and quick slants to make the defense honest but the Panthers made no adjustments. And therein lies the problem for the offense and that problem is Mike Shula’s inability to draw up plays against good defenses.

Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph (98) dives to tackle Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

When teams have good defenses or their defense has a good day against Carolina, it seems that Shula can not adjust to it. It is not only that he cannot adjust to good defenses he also doesn’t appear to game plan appropriately against that defense.

Shula also has the tendency to play too conservative. Many times he will run the ball up the middle over and over expecting the other team to not expect it yet they see it coming a mile away. Sometimes it honestly seems like the other team is listening to the headset with Newton.

One could point out how good the Panthers offense was last season. Certainly a fair point but it is also a fair point to look at the defenses they played. Most were not incredible defenses like the Denver Broncos or Minnesota Vikings have. In the NFL you have to be able to make the right plays against good opponents in big moments.

Good defenses are always going to make stops and sometimes the other team just has your number that day. However, with Shula every team with a good defense lately seems to have the Panthers number every game.

You have to step your game up or in this case your play calling in big games. The winners do that and the losers do not. It is that simple. One could even argue that Shula is on the hot seat.

Shula has proven to not be consistent enough to help the Panthers’ offense continue to grow and get better. The offense seems to make plays in spite of what he does. He needs to open his playbook up and not allow teams to tee off on Newton all game long. If he cannot do that then the Panthers will continue to struggle when teams decide to blitz.

This article originally appeared on