Texans film study and the evolution of Kubiak's offense.

[76Texan]

I'm going to start my vacation tomorrow and won't have the opportunity to get on board much, so I thought I just go ahead and present a bit of film study to "attempt" to show how much Kubiak's offense has evolved through the years.

As I rewatched several Texans games from this year to compare them to the seven Broncos games in 2007 and a Niners game way back when, I must say that this offense has come a long way.

It's so much more complex and sophisticated, the difference is like night and day (no matter the results.)

This offense that we're seeing here as compared to that 2007 Broncos offense can be seen as comparing a BMW with a Volks.

It's formation galore, play-action gallore, and a whole lot of more complex blocking schemes.
The motions are still there, sometimes less, but usually more.

When you add all these things together, there's little wonder why Arian Foster regards his HC as a premier chess player in the game of football.

And everything starts anew with each game, there has got to be a question on how the players can execute the different game plans at an optimum rate.

[76Texan]

...
Before I go on, I just want to say that I like the concept of a forum much better than that of a blog for the same reasons that I like family/friend email groups (and forums) better than individual blogs.
Basically, I think it opens up the channel of communication.
In the long term, it works out well (of course, not without a lot of trying.)
...

Anyway, let me just present the long of it.
I will cap the middle and the end with the "short" so that one can skip ahead if they are bored with the details.
It is for the pure love of the game.
Sometimes I wish I can make it simpler.

[76Texan]

For simplicity sake, and I happened to come across a Broncos game vs the Tacks in 07 in the break down to compare with the game we played against the Jags this year.

Purely coincidental, but the number of plays tied together for a decent comparison.

I won't bore you with the Broncos/Tacks breakdown.
Let me go straight to the Texans/Jags game.

[76Texan]

1-10
21ps
Offset I left 81 strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left
PA screen pass to 86

2-1
21ps
Offset I right, 81 strong right
Double slot left 81 83
Inside slot 83 cut block WDE than get up to catch a PA pass for a first down.

1-10
21ps
Offset I left, 81 strong left
82 slot right 80 wide right
PA screen pass to TE 81

1-10
21ps
Offset I left, 88 strong right
80 slot left, 83 slot right
PA pass to 44




1-10
12 ps
single deep back
Bunch left (88 top, 83 outside, 81 inside), 80 wide right
83 faked reverse, 44 took the ball and ran left
81 went across backfield to block backside DE (this is called a Wham block and the Texans use a TE, a FB, or a WR for such task - Walter's dirty job.)

2-5
12ps
Single deep back
balanced TEs 81, 88
80 wide left, 82 slot left (trip left)
23 ran left for 4

3-1
12ps
23 single deep back
80 wide left, both TE 88, 81 strong right, 83 slot right
23 ran left

1-10
02ps
shotgun empty backfield
80 wide left, 81T, X, 88, 83 slot right 82 wide right
pass to 81 in short hole

2-6
21ps
SI,
88 strong left, 80 slot right, 83 wide right
83 motion across backfield to slot left
44 runs left

1-10
21ps
offset I right, TE 81 strong right
80 wide left, 82 slot right
44 runs left
mirror

2-7
21ps
Offset I left, TE strong left
82 slot left, 80 wide right
PA screen pass to 23 incompleted.

3-7
11ps
shotgun single back right, TE 81 strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot right, 82 wide right
23 motioned to slot left (just inside 80)
incomplete to 83 in short hole (dropped ball by Walter).

FG

[76Texan]

1-10
21ps
Offset I right, TE 81 strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left
PA pass to 81 incomplete on a crossing route.
mirror

2-10
11ps
single deep back, 81 strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left, 82 wide right
23 runs left

3-9
11ps
single back left, TE 81 strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left, 82 wide right
80 motion to behind 83 in slot to take a screen pass off a PA fake to 23

Punt

[76Texan]

1-10
13ps
single deep back
TE on each side 81 left, 88 right, 86 just outside and behind RTE 88
80 wide left
81 motion across backfield to outside 86 (right slot)
after snap, 86 went across backfield to the left to cut block the WDE
run

2-8
13ps mirror formation
single deep back
86 outside LTE 88 on the left, 81 right
83 wide right
pass to 86 in left flat

3-4
11ps
shotgun single back left, TE strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left, 82 slot right
83 motion across backfield to inside right slot (inside 82)
slant pass to 81

1-10
21ps
SI
80 wide left, 82 slot right, 88 flex wide right
88 motion to inside right slot (inside 82 slot)
44 run right

1-goal @2
Jumbo formation
22ps
SI
TE 81 strong left, extra OT right
TE 88 flex wide right

2-goal
21ps
offset I left, TE 81 strong right
83 wide left, 80 slot left
23 run left TD

[76Texan]

End of first quarter.

The Texans had 21 plays, with 18 different formations.
There were 6 motions and 7 play-action passes.

In the Broncos/Titans game I went through with the same zest, the Broncos ran 21 plays in the first half (as opposed to one quarter for the Texans against the Jags.)
They ran those out of 12 different formations (6 fewer than the Texans).
There were 6 motions (same as the Texans) and 2 play-action passes (pale to compare to the Texans' 7.)

In just one quarter, the Texans had as many plays as the Broncos in one half (21 plays)

The Broncos showed 12 different formations (and a bunch of repeats on the other 9 plays.)
The Texans showed 18 different formations; their other 3 formations were mirrors - no repeat.

Both had 6 pre-snap motions (the Texans motions were more "sophisticate").

The Texans ran 7 PA passes as compared to 2 for the Broncos.

[76Texan]

2nd Qtr

1-10
13ps
single back deep;
86 lined up as the third TE next to 88 on left
AJ wide right.
Foster ran right

2-11
13ps
Mirror formation of above
Drop back quick pass to 23 for 9 (not a screen.)

3-2
13ps
single back deep
3TE bunch right (all 3 TEs close to each other), AJ wide left
23 ran weakside left for 1
Punt

...

1-10
12ps
single back deep
88 weak right; bunch left (80 at top, 83 inside, 81 outside).
PA Screen pass strong side to 44 for 2.

2-8
12ps
single back deep
balanced double wing formation (88 left, 81 right); 80 slot left, 83 slot right
quick out to 81 for 6

3-2
11ps
single deep back
AJ slot left; bunch right (83 top, 81 inside, 82 outside)
82 motion to inside left slot (inside AJ)
PA pass off a counter run; blocking flowed left,
23 ran a quick out right after the faked hand-off
17yd to 23

1-10
12ps
single back deep
double TE left (81 top, 86 outside and just behind)
83 wide left, 80 wide right
23 ran left
with 86 cut back across the flow in the backfield to block backside DE;
this allowed for the cut back by 23 for 9

2-1
12ps
TE on either side
80 wide left, 83 slot left (trip left)
23 ran for 3 and a first down

1-10
11ps
SI, TE strong left
83 motion to inside and behind TE (between TE and LT) showing block
80 wide left
PA pass to 83 who ran a comebacker for 13

1-10
21ps
Offset I right, TE strong right
80 wide left, 83 wide right (spreading the field, keeping both safeties honest.)
44 ran for a TD.

[76Texan]

1-10
21ps
SI, TE 88 strong right
80 wide left, 82 wide right
81 lined up as a FB, but quickly motion to opposite side of 88 (at Schaub's direction.)
(we now have a balanced 2TE look with a single deep back).
PA pass (faked run right.)
OD flowed with the block, but then swirl back to the left to take the pass for 6

2-4
12ps
single back deep
bunch left (88 at top, 83 outside, 81 inside), 80 wide left
23 ran for 3 (83 faked a reverse.)

3-1
12ps
single back deep, both TEs on right
80 wide left, 83 slot left
81 motion to left (now we have a TE on either side.)
23 ran left for 17

1-10
21ps
Offset I left, TE strong right
80 wide left, 82 wide right
Drop back pass, Schaub threw the ball away due to pressure.

2-10
21ps
Offset I right, TE strong right
80 wide left, 83 wide right
Drop back pass to 86 out of the backfield for 6
Same formation as the Tate's TD run.

3-4
11ps
single back shotgun, 23 next to Schaub on right, TE strong right
80 wide left 83 slot left, 82 wide right
Time-out
Texans probably didn't like the defensive look, so they changed play.

3-4
11ps
empty backfield
23 wide left, 82 and 81 double slot left, 83 slot right, 80 wide right.
23 motion to the other side, outside of 83 in the slot.
Schaub's pass went throught OD's hands (dropped pass as OD mis-timed his jump.)


Punt

[76Texan]

1-10
11ps
single back shotgun, RB on left of Schaub, TE strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left, 82 wide right
Delayed hand-off to 23 for 8

2-2
Similar formation, but with RB on Schaub's right.
This is the same formation as the one on the TO call.
Schaub's pass to 82 was deflected at the LOS.

3-2
11ps
Single back shotgun, RB on left
80 wide left, bunch right (83 at top, 81 inside, 82 outside.)
Delayed hand off to 23 for 16.

1-10
11ps
single back shotgun, RB on left, TE strong right
80 wide left, 83 slot left, 82 wide right.
Pass to 80 (wide open) was tipped at the LOS.
Same formation as the 1st and 10 play just above - 3 plays ahead of this one; however, this one was a pass play while the other one was a run play.

2-10
11ps
same formation
Schaub threw the ball away as 82 was covered.
Same formation but with a different pass pattern (different routes) and the pass went to a different target.

3-10
11ps
same formation.
Pass to 23 out of the backfield for 5.
Yet another different pass pattern and a different target.

Punt with 19 secs left in the half.

[76Texan]

The Texans ran 26 plays with 20 different formations in the second quarter.

For the whole first half, they ran 47 plays out of 38 different formations (an astounding number.)

As comparison, the Broncos ran 47 plays in that entire game against the Titans out of just 17 formations.

That's more than a 2 to 1 ratio in formations, showing a clearly more complex offensive scheme by the Texans.

....

The Texans showed 5 presnap motions and 4 PA passes in the second quarter.
For the half, the Texans showed 11 motions and 11 PA passes out of 24 pass plays.

For the game (but with the same number of plays as the Texans' 47, the Broncos showed 13 motions and 6 PA passes in 21 pass plays.

Here, I must note that the Broncos showed more motions.

[76Texan]

During the Texans/Jets game, they showed stats of QBs with pass completions over 20 yards off the Play-Action since 2007.

Schaub is #1 with 112.
Rivers is a distant #2 with 85.
Three other QBs were tied at #3: Brady, Peyton, and Brees.

This shows Schaub's status as the King of the Play-Action Pass.
(He missed some time - so his numbers here as compared to Brady and Peyton remain valid, while his numbers as compared to Rivers and Brees should be further enhanced.)

[Insideop]

Whew! Thanks 76 for the info. I know it must have taken quite some time to go through all of it. I'm somewhat of a stats guy, though not to the extent you are, so I do enjoy going through a lot of the statistics, and it does give a good barometer of how the Texans have improved under Kubes. Thanks again. rep coming your way!

[powda]

What coaching tree is shanny out of? Walsh, parcells, landry, etc...

Wasnt the constant formation changes a staple of the gibbs/landry offenses? Am I "misremembeing?"

[TheEastwood]

Why are you comparing the 2012 Texans with the 2007 Broncos? Wouldn't it make more sense to compare the 2007 Texans? Seeing as Kubiak was already the HC over here at that time?

[powda]

Originally Posted by TheEastwood

Why are you comparing the 2012 Texans with the 2007 Broncos? Wouldn't it make more sense to compare the 2007 Texans? Seeing as Kubiak was already the HC over here at that time?

I think his intent is to illustrate that kubiak has evolved into his own scheme. He's not just another rip off artist of shanny. The offense appears even more scheme driven then talent dependent...more so then I already thought. To me it also displays a need for intelligent players.

2007 is a bit dated but its interesting nonetheless.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by powda

What coaching tree is shanny out of? Walsh, parcells, landry, etc...

Shanny broke into the NFL under Dan Reeves in Denver, with Reeves being a Landry disciple.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Shanny broke into the NFL under Dan Reeves in Denver, with Reeves being a Landry disciple.

But he also spent a few years as the OC under Seifert in San Francisco.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

But he also spent a few years as the OC under Seifert in San Francisco.

Yeah, but Seifert was a defensive coach. Shanahan inherited the WCO playbook, but he brought his own influence to the Niners, as well. The Niners lead the NFL in scoring and were in the top 6 in rushing yards during his 3 seasons as OC.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Yeah, but Seifert was a defensive coach. Shanahan inherited the WCO playbook, but he brought his own influence to the Niners, as well. The Niners lead the NFL in scoring and were in the top 6 in rushing yards during his 3 seasons as OC.

Wasn't saying he didn't, just pointing out the WCO connection. I think that stint in SF had a big influence on his approach to the passing game.