Mike Shula Could Get Blame For Carolina Panthers Disappointing Season

Jul 25, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula talks with head coach Ron Rivera during training camp at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula talks with head coach Ron Rivera during training camp at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Panthers could become the fall guy if the team’s offensive struggles continue.

Through the first nine games of the season the Carolina Panthers has been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL and the offense has struggled to help a defense that has not played up to the standard it set last season when they were one of the league’s best. Many fingers are starting to be point at offensive coordinator Mike Shula for the struggles on offense that sees the Panthers ranked at the lower bottom of many categories.

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The Panthers ranked 25th in scoring at only 19.7 points per contest, 26th in rushing at only 94.7 yards per game, 20th in passing with only 226.6 yards per game and they are only averaging 321 yards per game of total offense which is also 26th in the league. Now in defense of Shula he has not all his weapons available for most of this season due to injuries. Starting quarterback Cam Newton missed the opening game against Tampa Bay recovering from a rib injury, the team’s top 3 running backs DeAngelo Williams, Johnathan Stewart, and Mike Tolbert have all missed games due to various injuries and the offensive line has struggled all season along in both pass protection and run blocking along with injuries also.

On top of that Newton has tried to develop chemistry with a completely new group of receivers on the fly, it is hard for an offense to be successful when dealing with that many problems. With the Panthers on the verge of seeing their season become a disaster Coach Shula could be the one who ends taking the blame despite the entire team struggling this season.

The offensive coordinator also caused a small bit of controversy this week when he said that quarterback Cam Newton was not elite, which he is not. The Panthers quarterback is very talented but has yet to reach that next level despite a pair of Pro Bowl selections. That once again comes back to Mike Shula with some fans saying that he has failed to develop the quarterback as a pocket passer despite of Newton’s obvious talents. If the Panthers continue to struggle on offense the question may become not only will Shula take the blame but will he lose his job as well?

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