With the Panthers’ dire state of affairs at running back, many have been wondering why Panthers’ offensive coordinator Mike Shula won’t let the reins go on quarterback Cam Newton.
“We’ve got good weapons to run the football other than Cam. There aren’t as many as there were a couple weeks ago, but we feel like we’ve got a good package down there,” Shula said. “Does he enhance that package? Yes. But we still feel like we’ve got other ways to get the ball in the end zone.”
I’m not sure what those options are with Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams all nursing injuries. Cam has performed best when he’s instinctive and that includes having the option to run the ball when he has the opportunity or deems necessary. You typically don’t want your starting quarterback to be your number one rusher, like Cam was last season, but you also don’t want to stifle his talent by limiting his offensive weapons.