Texans Chick Blog - Coaching

[Runner]

What does scheme mean?

TC’s blog entry of June 3 - Mario Williams is big, and slightly less obvious observations - was interesting reading. She listened to a few coaches talk and picked up some interesting tidbits. Many of us have expressed confidence in what the new coaching staff brings to the table, and TC’s blog entry adds meat to what for many is just a feeling. For example, she had this to say about the o-line:

Originally Posted by blog

The Bronco offense recognizes that generally defensive line players are better athletes than offensive line players. So what they are trying to do is to negate that athleticism by making it difficult for the defensive players to be overly aggressive and make them defend the entire field.

Most of the offensive formations will look like they will be a run. The offensive line will block in a way that appears that it will be a run--directing the defensive players just the same way. This commitment of what appears to be a run block makes the defense feel like they have to defend against it.

This is what sets up all the play action and naked bootlegs to give the quarterback a really open look downfield. The defensive linemen can't be too aggressive because they will either give up the run or the pass (and/or get cut blocked) — this gives the offense at a minimum 4 yards here and there and the potential for big plays.

The tape he showed demonstrated a system that looked like it was designed for someone like David Carr who likes to throw on the run and has a strong arm. The key for him is to be super disciplined in the progressions. The way the plays are designed, if he looks where he is supposed to look, (usually deep to short), the defensive players will have a hard time being in the right positions. Most of the plays are super safe, so even if the defense is right on top of things, there is always a place to go with the ball.

There is a lot of learning to do with the offense, but once everyone learns their roles and commit to what their roll is, this could be a lot of fun to watch. The lineman have to learn what they need to do every time, the receivers have to run very exacting routes and often block in a specific way, and the QB has to be sure to go through the progressions every time. Based on what sorts of defensive cheats the coaches start seeing in the booth, they can tweak the plays to take advantage of defensive tendencies.
…

This was good stuff – it shows how the coaches intend to use scheme to offset the athletic advantages many d-lineman have. I think it also a portent of the future – while the system does rely on having very athletic lineman, it also requires that they work well together within the system. Being a good one-on-one o-lineman isn’t the end all as it has been in previous years.

The entry has some other good things in it – Dre Johnson has come ready to play, as usual. It tells us what teams our defense may resemble, etc. Check it out.

http://blogs.chron.com/fanblogtexans/

[Texans Horror]

The entire offense should be affected by the new scheme, from DD to Carr to the O-line. So the offensive "need" became receivers and to bolster an aging line. I am beginning to see the thought process behind the Texans' offseason (hindsight is 40-40).

[thunderkyss]

Just out of curiousity..... I've read on this board, that Carr like to throw on the run.....

Is this something he was particularly adept at in College, and just one of the things Capers didn't give him the opportunity to showcase?? From my memory(which I admit has failed me often).......... but David doesn't need to be moving around alot. Once he breaks contain, he is more effective running upfield, than trying to hit a target on the run......

Am I missing something??

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Just out of curiousity..... I've read on this board, that Carr like to throw on the run.....

Is this something he was particularly adept at in College, and just one of the things Capers didn't give him the opportunity to showcase?? From my memory(which I admit has failed me often).......... but David doesn't need to be moving around alot. Once he breaks contain, he is more effective running upfield, than trying to hit a target on the run......

Am I missing something??

IMO you have to separate out designed plays and Carr reacting to pressure. The Texans tried adding in more designed role outs last year at times. On those plays, Carr was much more successful than on drop back plays where he ran in reaction to pressure. The Denver system obviously involves incorporation of more of the former.

[Texans_Chick]

I wish all y'all could have heard the talks with the film because a lot of this makes more sense when you can see what the Denver offense does to defenses.

Having all the ex-Denver folks makes sense too because the scheme is sometimes a little counter-intuitive. (For example, having that lineman on the completely commit to the run block even though his quarterback is doing a naked bootleg the other way from the run fake--Kyle Shanahan was talking about how he tried to get Gruden to block the Denver way on that, but that Gruden still wanted his linemen to shield the QB more on the bootleg versus completely committing to the run block to fake the d-lineman out).

You run this right, and the defenses will either overpursue or allow a dink and dunk that gets you down the field.

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

IMO you have to separate out designed plays and Carr reacting to pressure. The Texans tried adding in more designed role outs last year at times. On those plays, Carr was much more successful than on drop back plays where he ran in reaction to pressure. The Denver system obviously involves incorporation of more of the former.

He's gonna have to get a little more convincing to really sell the play fake, but boy howdy, I was watching this video and thinking David Carr is just gonna love this. (and apparently from what he has been saying at least publically, that is the case).

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

...(For example, having that lineman on the completely commit to the run block even though his quarterback is doing a naked bootleg the other way from the run fake--Kyle Shanahan was talking about how he tried to get Gruden to block the Denver way on that, but that Gruden still wanted his linemen to shield the QB more on the bootleg versus completely committing to the run block to fake the d-lineman out)...

Last year, when they would fake the hand-off and have Carr run the naked bootleg only Pendry and Carr knew he was faking the hand-off - the o-line thought the RB was coming their way. That is one way to make the lineman "sell their blocks".

[Sportsfan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

I wish all y'all could have heard the talks with the film because a lot of this makes more sense when you can see what the Denver offense does to defenses.

Hey TC- where did you hear or witness these 'talks' regarding film that you speak of?
Pretty interesting stuff.

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by Sportsfan

Hey TC- where did you hear or witness these 'talks' regarding film that you speak of?
Pretty interesting stuff.

I went to the Houston Texans Coaching Clinic. The Coaching Clinic was meant for Texas high school and junior high coaches to improve the quality of coaching in youth sports. It is something that all NFL teams do.

As I posted on my blog and in the tailgate section, I talked to the Texans and they said it was totally cool for fans to come to this event too. The money you paid for the clinic goes to support youth football.

As far as I could tell, I was the only fan that showed up. At least I was the only female. One coach at the end came up to me and asked me if I were a coach. Bwahahaha. (I will admit to spending wrongful amounts of time drawing flag football plays on index cards when I was supposed to be paying attention in class).

So some of the clinics were more coaching focused, and some were more Texans focused, using the Texans as an example of how you can do things on the high school level. It was pretty amazing to see Kyle Shanahan talk to a group of coaches, many of them twice as old as him, and telling them what the deal was--it was really cool seeing him talk film. If you know your stuff, you know your stuff.

[hollywood_texan]

This is very interesting.

Maybe now when there is a sack, people will not immediately blame the offensive line. This clearly shows the level responsibility in order to throw the football in this particular offense.

The coaching staff seems to definitely have their act together, now they have to find the players that can execute the scheme. Hopefully, we already have most of those players on the squad, particularly at QB.

[Double Barrel]

Nice insight, TC. Thanks as always for your time and blog.

[Sportsfan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

I went to the Houston Texans Coaching Clinic. The Coaching Clinic was meant for Texas high school and junior high coaches to improve the quality of coaching in youth sports. It is something that all NFL teams do.

As I posted on my blog and in the tailgate section, I talked to the Texans and they said it was totally cool for fans to come to this event too. The money you paid for the clinic goes to support youth football.

As far as I could tell, I was the only fan that showed up. At least I was the only female. One coach at the end came up to me and asked me if I were a coach. Bwahahaha. (I will admit to spending wrongful amounts of time drawing flag football plays on index cards when I was supposed to be paying attention in class).

So some of the clinics were more coaching focused, and some were more Texans focused, using the Texans as an example of how you can do things on the high school level. It was pretty amazing to see Kyle Shanahan talk to a group of coaches, many of them twice as old as him, and telling them what the deal was--it was really cool seeing him talk film. If you know your stuff, you know your stuff.

Cool. I missed that, would have been good to attend that.

By the way, whoever you man is, he's one lucky dude to have a women that likes to study the intricate workings of NFL offenses. LOL

[Ibar_Harry]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

I went to the Houston Texans Coaching Clinic. The Coaching Clinic was meant for Texas high school and junior high coaches to improve the quality of coaching in youth sports. It is something that all NFL teams do.

As I posted on my blog and in the tailgate section, I talked to the Texans and they said it was totally cool for fans to come to this event too. The money you paid for the clinic goes to support youth football.

As far as I could tell, I was the only fan that showed up. At least I was the only female. One coach at the end came up to me and asked me if I were a coach. Bwahahaha. (I will admit to spending wrongful amounts of time drawing flag football plays on index cards when I was supposed to be paying attention in class).

So some of the clinics were more coaching focused, and some were more Texans focused, using the Texans as an example of how you can do things on the high school level. It was pretty amazing to see Kyle Shanahan talk to a group of coaches, many of them twice as old as him, and telling them what the deal was--it was really cool seeing him talk film. If you know your stuff, you know your stuff.

She's to nice to be thrown out. She won't tell you, but she crashed the party. Just had to kidd a little bit. Its amazing how many times there are events like this, but people are simply unaware or think they are not allowed to attend. Never hurts to ask the question. She did get an ear full and you can tell she enjoyed every minute of it. Quite frankly she gave us more information from that one session than Justice and McClain did in a season.