CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mike Shula never stands behind the podium during his weekly session with the media. He speaks so softly that you have to listen carefully to catch every word.

The Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator got even farther from the podium, and spoke even more softly, when asked Monday if he still had head-coaching aspirations.

“I have aspirations to help this offense and football team go win next week," Shula said with a smile. “That's all I’m worrying about. That other stuff, I don’t think about. I’m with this offense and helping this team."

Shula has helped the Panthers to a franchise-best 6-0 start. He’s quieted the critics who, over the past two seasons, have made him a target on radio talk shows and in barroom discussions.

Coordinator Mike Shula is enjoying the Panthers' 6-0 start, but says there's "still a long way to go" with Cam Newton and the read-option offense. AP Photo/Chuck Burton

But Shula doesn’t feel smarter now than when the Panthers were 3-8-1 last season. He’s the first to say he’s still learning, particularly as it pertains to the read-option offense he had little experience with before quarterback Cam Newton arrived in 2011.

“Still a long way to go," Shula said. “I’m a baby tree right now."

But for a change, at least, critics aren’t trying to cut Shula’s limbs off because of what is perceived to be a conservative attack.

Not that Shula ever concerned himself with what critics said.

“The only thing we worry about is win/loss at the end of the game," he said. “Yeah you’d like to have huge stats. It’d help your ego. But that’s what great about coaching here. Guys don’t worry about that."

Shula’s style is the perfect balance for defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera. The Panthers are 25-12-1 since Shula took over in 2013. It’s about ball control and not making mistakes.

Overall, it doesn’t look impressive that this year’s team is 22nd in total offense with 344.2 yards a game.

But look closer and you’ll see that the Panthers are first in rushing yards per game, with 144.7, and sixth in points per game, with 27, as they head into a Monday-night game against Indianapolis.

That combined with a defense ranked ninth in the league is a winning formula.

“I have a lot of faith in what we’re doing," Rivera said. “When you get a chance to sit down and talk with him and listen to his thoughts, and listen what he’s looking at ... and hear other coaches talk about it, I’m excited about it."

Shula’s offense isn’t always three yards and a cloud of dust. The Panthers had seven plays of 20-plus yards in Sunday night’s 27-16 victory over Philadelphia.

They also rushed for 204 yards.

“Having 200 yards rushing is a stat I know our offensive line is proud of," said Shula, again smiling. “We want to find a way to help our team win."

Shula was raised on winning. He was 7 when his legendary dad, Don Shula, coached the Miami Dolphins to a 17-0 record and a Super Bowl victory.

Shula also understands that winning doesn’t erase all criticism. He was fired as the offensive coordinator at Tampa Bay after a 1999 season that ended with a loss in the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs never ranked higher than 22nd in total offense under Shula.

Shula also was fired at Alabama, his alma mater, in 2006 after producing only one winning record in four seasons there.

Perhaps that’s why Shula shies away from the podium and speaks softly now about the possibility of one day becoming a head coach again.

“Probably the No. 1 perspective in that regard is to worry about the things that you can control and not anything else," Shula said. “It’s still hard, but you block out things that aren’t going to help you, help the football team be better."