The Panthers wasted little time in making changes to their organization after losing 31-26 to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the NFC playoffs Sunday, relieving offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey of their duties two days after their season concluded.
Shula spent the past seven seasons with Carolina, beginning in 2011 as quarterbacks coach the same season that Cam Newton was drafted, before being promoted before the 2013 season to offensive coordinator; Shula has 30 years of coaching experience between college and the NFL. Dorsey was hired by the Panthers to replace Shula as quarterbacks coach in 2013 following two seasons as a pro scout; this was the first coaching position for the former University of Miami quarterback.
Shula’s performance as an offensive coordinator:
When he replaced Rob Chudzinski in 2013, Shula was asked by Ron Rivera to return the Panthers to the power running style of the franchise’s history, and he achieved that goal, mostly by utilizing Cam Newton as a large part of his running game and introducing the read-option to the run game, in addition to multiple formations and presnap motion.
During Shula’s tenure, the Panthers ranked inside the NFL’s top ten every year but 2013 in terms of team rushing yards, including this season, when the team rushed for 142.6 yards per game, good for fourth in the league. The Panthers best offensive season under Shula was by far the 2015 season, when the team ranked first in the NFL in points scored (31.3 points per game) and went 15-1; that season also saw Newton win the league’s MVP.
With the Carolina Panthers offense and success being so intertwined with Newton’s play, perhaps a look at his numbers this season would explain the release of Shula and Dorsey; Newton had his worst year, statistically, in 2017 in multiple passing categories including interception percentage, yards per attempt, yards per completion, yards per game, and QBR. Recovery from offseason shoulder surgery certainly contributed to these numbers, but the association between Newton and Shula cannot be ignored.
Whoever replaces Shula will be Newton’s third offensive coordinator of his eight-year career; no word as of yet who the Panthers are considering as Shula’s replacement.
