Denver's offensive philosophy:How O-line spells success or failure

[badboy]

What stands out to me is the requirement of having good back ups that can relieve the starters. That should be an improved area this season.

[Rex King]

Originally Posted by badboy

What stands out to me is the requirement of having good back ups that can relieve the starters. That should be an improved area this season.

No doubt. I guess we'll find out (well, I hope we don't have any injuries). It's a lot better than having a bunch of overpaid injury-prone old guys, but most of the projected backups are very young, inexperienced, and unproven.

On a side note:

''The coaches upstairs saw some tendencies and called the play,'' Smith said. '

This is where young Shanny's going to have to earn his keep.

I think o-line weight may be heading back the other way to a degree. More teams have been going to zone blocking and are also looking at more athletic tackles to contend with their increasingly freakishly fast counterparts across the line like Freeney and the increasing number of 3-4 OLBs.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Even SI is showing homage to whom I feel like referring to "Alexander the Great":

• Alex Gibbs, Houston Texans assistant head coach -- The Texans lured Gibbs out of his one-year retirement and will have the well-respected longtime offensive line coach work closely with newly elevated offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Gibbs will design the Texans' running game, with the same ultra-successful zone-blocking schemes that Denver was known for during Gibbs' tenure on Mike Shanahan's staff. Kyle Shanahan, Mike's 28-year-old son, will design the passing game and call the plays on game day, with head coach Gary Kubiak having final say.

When they were together in Denver, Kubiak was the offensive coordinator who learned from and was mentored by Gibbs, the team's veteran offensive line coach. Now Gibbs, 66, will be serving in the same capacity for the younger Shanahan. This much we know: Somebody in Houston's backfield this season is going to gain a bunch of yards, because great rushing totals follow Gibbs everywhere. During his recent three-year stint on Jim Mora's staff in Atlanta, Gibbs watched the Falcons lead the league in rushing each season.

[edo783]

This much we know: Somebody in Houston's backfield this season is going to gain a bunch of yards, because great rushing totals follow Gibbs everywhere. During his recent three-year stint on Jim Mora's staff in Atlanta, Gibbs watched the Falcons lead the league in rushing each season.

Man, that has a sweet sound about it, if it comes about for us.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by edo783

This much we know: Somebody in Houston's backfield this season is going to gain a bunch of yards, because great rushing totals follow Gibbs everywhere. During his recent three-year stint on Jim Mora's staff in Atlanta, Gibbs watched the Falcons lead the league in rushing each season.

Man, that has a sweet sound about it, if it comes about for us.

Yet another reason why we won't be taking mendenhall or Stewart. The Denver system is basically one where you just need a decent durable runner that hits the hole and doesn't fumble.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

The article although written the end of 2006 is a quite telling commentary on how the NFL has evolved weight wise in relation to time, performance, etc......especially as relates to Olinemen. The entire article is worth reviewing (like the Broncos OLineman who drank a gallon of water and put weight in his jock strap just to be able to weigh in at the minimum).:

Heavy pressure: NFL players struggle with weight game
Since the 1980s, NFL players have packed on the pounds, but is the league's emphasis on weight harmful?

By Carlos Frias, William M. Hartnett
Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

Sunday, October 29, 2006

nice read CnD

I don't know how I missed this the first time around

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by Rex King

No doubt. I guess we'll find out (well, I hope we don't have any injuries). It's a lot better than having a bunch of overpaid injury-prone old guys, but most of the projected backups are very young, inexperienced, and unproven.

On a side note:

This is where young Shanny's going to have to earn his keep.

I think o-line weight may be heading back the other way to a degree. More teams have been going to zone blocking and are also looking at more athletic tackles to contend with their increasingly freakishly fast counterparts across the line like Freeney and the increasing number of 3-4 OLBs.

When I saw Shanahan the young speak, he talked a lot about what they are looking in the scripted plays. How they notice how defenders line up for different plays. IIRC, they used that information to free up AJ on some huge plays down field last season.

I've been told by someone on staff that the offensive coaches are sort of interchangeable--that their responsibilities are very overlapping. They all have titles, but they all have imput on various positions and just about each coach could coach a couple of positions on the field if pressed to do so. It's very cooperative because they are on the same page and speak the same language.

In other words, I don't think that anyone should be particularly concerned about Shanahan's role on this team other than just one of a number of coaches that know what Kubiak wants from the offense. Knowing their way of doing things.

[Giant Tiger]

What I want to see is our offensive line push the defense back-especially inside the 5 yard line . I thought Lundy had nowhere to go his first couple of games.

[Rex King]

Trend watch: Is power offense making a comeback?

"One coach told me his team's divisional opponents dictate this switch -- tighten the line splits down so quick defensive linemen can't penetrate a gap, and roll a short-yardage philosophy out in the middle of the field."

Okay, I'm bored.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Rex King

Trend watch: Is power offense making a comeback?

"One coach told me his team's divisional opponents dictate this switch -- tighten the line splits down so quick defensive linemen can't penetrate a gap, and roll a short-yardage philosophy out in the middle of the field."

Okay, I'm bored.

IIRC, Schaub's best QB rating was when there were 2 or more TE's on the field.

[Rex King]

Dang, that's a good memory, PN! I do remember Schaub repeatedly get crushed when the D overloaded the weak side. Would be nice to have a blocking TE with decent pass-catching ability like Utecht in that situation. Dreesen maybe?

I didn't pay much attention to it, but Spencer Tillman said in 06 that they changed their splits when running vs. passing. I'm guessing the splits are going to be wider this year and won't change from play to play. I was just wondering how that's going to affect pass protection. The article also reminded me how glad I am we got Okam. The "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Receivers" Titans seem to be following the run 'em to death script to a T.