Epiphany about Gado

I dont know if this has already been discussed, sorry if im rehashing something that was already made clear in the Gado thread. But, if this ISNT something that has been discussed, I think its worth a new thread.

So anyway, I was driving home from my Math test (ugh), smoking a newport and thinking about how much im looking forward to this coming Sunday, and I got to thinking about Gado.

Now, it has been mentioned (I think) by Kubiak that Gado would be getting carries in the Colts game, along with Dayne. I was thinking about that and I said to myself;

"self, how terrible is Gado gonna look in an offense that he has probably barely even cracked the playbook on?"

Then I began to think about the reaction from the fans here that Gado is gonna get when he looks lost in our offense.. and all the sarcastic and pessimistic comments that are gonna be passed around. So then I said to myself;

"Self, that just doesnt make any sense.. I know our running game was bad last week but is it really gonna do us any good to throw a guy out there who doesnt know a thing about our offense? I mean, basicly all we would be doing is handing him the ball and telling him to look for a hole.. thats not real smart in the pros"

So thats when I had the epiphany. I knew our staff was smarter than that.. and it struck me that the announcers in the eagles game were talking about how we looked like a mix of Green Bay and Denver.. and they were pointing out that "thats a Green Bay formation" and "thats a Denver formation" etc..etc..etc..

So I put 2 and 2 together and realized.. hey, Gado did really well in Sherman's system last year..and really poorly in thier new system. People have been saying "why did we get Gado, he is struggling in the zone blocking scheme we run". Exactly.. Why take a player that isnt getting the zone blocking? Why give the ball to a guy that has never played in your offense? Because he wont be running the ball in our offense, or in the zone blocking scheme. We have plays in our playbook that came from Sherman. Just as Dayne is coming in with a working knowledge of the Denver scheme, Gado is coming in with a working knowledge of the Green Bay scheme.

If Gado gets the ball on Sunday, its gonna be when we are running a play that he knows from last year in Green Bay, where he was very successful. Just as Dayne will be getting the ball when we run plays that came from the Denver style.

Dayne and Gado are band-aids for our struggling running game. Both of them know portions of our playbook.. and both of them had success running those plays on their past team.

Its actually gonna be pretting interesting to see if the rest of our offense will be able to adequately run plays from the two different playbooks. I know that they have been practicing this all offseason, but now we have a seperate back for each section of the book.

Anyway, I just thought id share that thought, and maybe make people feel a little better about the Gado trade. Hopefully, when its all said and done and we have established the identity of our offense.. we will find that Gado, or Dane, or Lundy.. or all of them.. are capable of having success no matter which play we are running.

I am down with the Gado trade anyway..but...

I like your logic! Could easily explain why the trade was done.

FILO_girl said:

I am down with the Gado trade anyway..but...

I like your logic! Could easily explain why the trade was done.

Click to expand...

no lie. way to shed some light from an angle i hadn't thought of before now. I'd love to see Gado get his chance to become a feature back. I really like the kid. glad to know he's gonna be getting some action come sunday (playing football...)

I like that! I also heard them talk about the Green Bay and Denver system a few times during last sundays game. Im looking forward to seeing Gado and Dayne in this game, since they already have a feel for our running style. I really think that if our running game can run around 175 or more yards between the backs, that any defense is going to have trouble all around with our offense. Maybe im being too optimistic... who cares

I feel bad for Carr, because I don't think he's gonna know who he's going to hand the ball off anymore. He's gonna be like, "Who the heck is that? Gado? WTF?" Well, hopefully Gado can make a difference, maybe throw a block during pass-protection.

Good point Grid. Of course it remains to be seen if that's the way it plays out or if it will work, but it is a good thought from a different angle.

I like this thread...A LOT!!!!!

bigTEXan8 said:

I feel bad for Carr, because I don't think he's gonna know who he's going to hand the ball off anymore. He's gonna be like, "Who the heck is that? Gado? WTF?" Well, hopefully Gado can make a difference, maybe throw a block during pass-protection.

Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking too! It's an area that I hope our 2 new backs are better at than what our other backs were. And, I also hope some of our TE's have made improvements this week in that same department!

Good point Grid. I didn't even think of the times we've ran GB's old plays, Gado should be able to step right in for a few snaps if we can stay on the field long enough.

Awesome post, Grid. Great insight into Gado and Dayne being brought in. Gado did look pretty good in the few Packers' games I watched last season. Dayne looked sharp in that Thanksgiving game last year. Hopefully these 2 will have some success here.

newports are whack. parliaments ftw.

I'd like to take credit for this very intelligent posting by Grid. As his former teacher, all things smart he does comes from me. Any idiotic postings he makes are either his parents fault, or of his own accord.

Interesting perspective..and a piece of logic i hadn't thought of before. Very nice

I think there is another point to be made about Gado and that is he is highly intelligent. I have a feeling he will pickup the play book very rapidly. He is also quite humble and apparently has a lot of respect for Sherman. We obviously needed something based on what happened last Sunday. I guess they were saying our RB's flunked their finals.

bigTEXan8 said:

I feel bad for Carr, because I don't think he's gonna know who he's going to hand the ball off anymore. He's gonna be like, "Who the heck is that? Gado? WTF?" Well, hopefully Gado can make a difference, maybe throw a block during pass-protection.

Click to expand...

Seriously, it makes not a single bit of difference who takes the handoff from Carr's perspective, as long as whoever it is in in the correct position for the called play.

using that logic should not the Colts or scouting team for the Colts figure out that when Gado is in the backfield the Texans will run his patented GB play or that Dayne is in that he runs his Denver playbook? there is enough footage of both to come to a pretty good idea of how to defense them, thus neutralizing effectivness.

I still feel the Texans best option is to hit Lundy out of the backfield with short passes, unless the line suddenly opens gapping holes for the big backs.

Excellent post however I enjoyed the way you presented your thought process and good luck with school.

Your observation is right, IMO.

Can anyone break down the preseason games and the effectiveness of the run plays during GB blocking and likewise during Denver blocking?

I wish the reporters would ask SMART questions, such as "Why are you splitting the playbook into GB and Denver styles? Why not just go with the Denver system? What's the overall strategy here?"

PowerfulDragon said:

newports are whack. parliaments ftw.

Click to expand...

Smoking is whack.


Great point Grid. This is exactly what we need. Hopefully success shines on us this weekend and all these negative vibes will begin to lift.

FILO_girl said:

I am down with the Gado trade anyway..but...

I like your logic! Could easily explain why the trade was done.

Click to expand...

I second that. Alonzo Highsmith (a ex oiler and now Green Bay scout) talked about the trade with John yesterday morning on Sports Radio 610 and he said he would flourish in our zone blocking scheme and he's a legit 4.4 player. Give him a chance.

FirstTexansFan said:

I'd like to take credit for this very intelligent posting by Grid. As his former teacher, all things smart he does comes from me. Any idiotic postings he makes are either his parents fault, or of his own accord.

Click to expand...

bigTEXan8 said:

He's gonna be like, "Who the heck is that? Gado? WTF?"

Click to expand...

LMAO!!!!!

Awesome post, Grid.

I think that we have the right kind of RB's in place now. We just need the line to open up some holes for 'em.

You may want to see someone about that talking to yourself business.

As for the splitting, I sure feel sorry for our OL. No wonder they were so awful in run blocking last week. They have to learn two separate schemes! Not only are we now running a "running back by committee" offense, but we're running a playbook by committee as well.

All of our players are multi-tasking. Williams and Weaver at DE and DT. OL zone and man. etc

OK, guys, we're playing the Texans Sunday, so we're gonna be watching films of Green Bay and Denver.

Coach, what about Texans films?

Uh, we threw those away.

gpshafer_1976 said:

Your observation is right, IMO.

Can anyone break down the preseason games and the effectiveness of the run plays during GB blocking and likewise during Denver blocking?

I wish the reporters would ask SMART questions, such as "Why are you splitting the playbook into GB and Denver styles? Why not just go with the Denver system? What's the overall strategy here?"

Click to expand...

I can't remember back to the preseason...... which means very little.... look at how Lundy & Morency performed then versus a real game.

But Last Sunday, we mostly ran man blocking plays.... just like in the denver game. only a few plays were unquestionably ZBS, where you see the OL strectch the play all the sideline..... a few looks like they might have tried, but Kearse would cut it back in, and cut off a whole or something to that affect.

But our run game was pitiful, IMHO, because the left side of the line was either underpowered....... Flanagan & Pitts... missed a block Flanagan, Spencer...... or just plain didn't know what they were doing...... Spencer & Pitts.. Wiegart did a good job, Weary did a good job. & other than that fumble recovery, McKinney did next to nothing to help our running game.

Pass protection wise, They are head and shoulders above last years team. & we can see that in one game.... no question. Running, they can't even compare to the guys we had last year.

But they are all at new positions........ except Pitts. & I think they are excelling in pass protection.... I know who got credited for sacks, but IMHO, I don't blame them for any. Putz got beat, and a blitz wasn't picked up(should've been by a TE(I think it was Owens) or the tailback(Lundy)). & until proven otherwise, Philly is an elite pass rushing team.

How many math questions did you answer 24-10?

gtexan02 said:

You may want to see someone about that talking to yourself business.

As for the splitting, I sure feel sorry for our OL. No wonder they were so awful in run blocking last week. They have to learn two separate schemes! Not only are we now running a "running back by committee" offense, but we're running a playbook by committee as well.

All of our players are multi-tasking. Williams and Weaver at DE and DT. OL zone and man. etc

Click to expand...

This is due mainly to the personnell we have on our team. Right now would be a good time to release yourself of all attachments to team players, other than Kubiak guys, and David Carr.

Our Oline was built for the power running game. We installed the ZBS after we had most of our OL...... Spencer & Winston IMHO fit the power game as well, I don't really understand either choice. But Spencer has been impressive..... his athleticism and all.

We'll more than likely get us a ZBS Center & gaurd in the upcoming draft.

Williams plays DT, because I think Kubiak found what he thought would be a weakness on our team...... our DEs...... Peek & Babin....... turned out to be a strength...... he's even used Charlie Anderson in the preseason at DE. Well, DE is a strength compared to our DT options. Mario was our most impressive DT Sunday... TJ showed flashes, but not much. Seth did about as well as TJ.... the Malone & Thomas Johnson did as well as Seth & TJ..... so what are you gonna do........ if you're going to win games, you've got to put your best players on the field, right now, we're just shaking the bag, to see where everything falls.

Even still, I think we could have won the game against the Eagles. I think the game against the Colts will be a probable, & Wahsinton Doesn't stand a chance.

Miami are shaking their bag right now as well, Dante & Chambers have to find a way to hook up, and Ronnie Brown has to find his groove..... depending on how that goes, Miami may also be a win.

well............ I'm starting to rant now........

Great thread and certainly at least part of what Kubiak and Sherman are thinking.

Kubiak himself said he will even let Sherman call some plays throughout a game.

El Tejano said:

Kubiak himself said he will even let Sherman call some plays throughout a game.

Click to expand...

I wonder what our OC thinks about that?

I don't know that much about Sherman. Is he a line coach, a TE coach or would he make a good Assistant HC/OC.

Maybe that is Shermans future here if he doesn't get any job offers next year.

Calhoun was already hired as OC before Sherman came on board.

Kubiak is not bashful about changing players, would he be as eager to change coaching assignments if he thinks it would help things?

Just something to think about.

O.G. said:

I second that. Alonzo Highsmith (a ex oiler and now Green Bay scout) talked about the trade with John yesterday morning on Sports Radio 610 and he said he would flourish in our zone blocking scheme and he's a legit 4.4 player. Give him a chance.

Click to expand...

We are getting mixed signals about this...

I suppose Alonzo would know more about it than a GB message board poster..

Here's hoping that Alonzo is right.

Grid said:

Dayne and Gado are band-aids for our struggling running game.

Click to expand...

Yep. And that particular wound probably won't be healed until next season, when Kubiak has an entire off-season and another draft to address it.

I wouldn't be surprised if both Dayne and Gado are not on the 2007 Texans, to be honest.

Good post, though. When they announced the trade for Gado, one of the first things I thought of was Sherman's influence and some of the plays we're running. It just makes sense after bringing in Dayne, who Kubiak is familiar with and knows the Denver system.

People seem to be writing off Lundy. He did not perform well in Game 1 and did a poor job of recognizing the holes (when our overmatched O-line did create them), but I hardly think he's a done deal. To my knowledge he's still receiving most of the first team reps and is still our starter, and he looked respectable in the preseason.

Give the kid time.

jerek said:

People seem to be writing off Lundy. He did not perform well in Game 1 and did a poor job of recognizing the holes (when our overmatched O-line did create them), but I hardly think he's a done deal. To my knowledge he's still receiving most of the first team reps and is still our starter, and he looked respectable in the preseason.

Give the kid time.

Click to expand...

I think that Lundy is just going to be given more time to develop into the player Kubiak wants him to be. I don't look at this as a real demotion at all. I see it more as a case where he was prematurely promoted because we lacked options.

I disagree a little with Double Barrel on Dayne and Gado being here next year. If either one of them busts out this season they'll be right back here again next year and if both are effective then it's very possible we'll not be so much in the market for a RB in 2007.

It could go the other way I admit. I just have this feeling that Dayne is going to do something here.

highroller28 said:

"smoking a newport?" are you a f__king rapper? oh, rappers smoke splifs.
everyone knows you can't smoke on earf anymore.

Click to expand...

Whatsa splif? Is it like a milf? This lingo is hard to keep up with.


Cuppacoffee-
I don't understand the mixed signals, maybe this is what is confusing you (like alot of rival posters)-
Gado wasn't learning MCCARTHY's new scheme but he flourished in SHERMANs. I can see that happening, and we are taking advantage of this.

Does that help?

Hervoyel said:

I disagree a little with Double Barrel on Dayne and Gado being here next year. If either one of them busts out this season they'll be right back here again next year and if both are effective then it's very possible we'll not be so much in the market for a RB in 2007.

It could go the other way I admit. I just have this feeling that Dayne is going to do something here.

Click to expand...

Of course I hope you're right, man. It's just the way that Kubiak goes through running backs - we've only got on on the roster we started training camp with - I wouldn't be surprised if both Dayne and Gado are not on the 2007 Texans.

I'm not saying that they will be gone, just won't surprise me (as I'm sure you probably understand).

I really look forward to seeing both Dayne and Gado in action...provided that they've got holes to run through. Last week was pitiful in that regard, and I'm not sure if even the greats would have much luck behind that performance.

i didn't say this earlier...but that was a solid post from an from a different perspective grid. solid yo. and i guess so much for me saying "hey guys. look out for morency. he's gonna have a break out year this year."

FILO_girl said:

Whatsa splif? Is it like a milf? This lingo is hard to keep up with.


Cuppacoffee-
I don't understand the mixed signals, maybe this is what is confusing you (like alot of rival posters)-
Gado wasn't learning MCCARTHY's new scheme but he flourished in SHERMANs. I can see that happening, and we are taking advantage of this.

Does that help?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.

I am not pro Morency vs. Gado. I have learned my lesson about picking team favorites. ( Wand)

My concern is Gado was having trouble picking up the ZBS in Green Bay

"But it turned out Gado was slow to adapt to the team's new zone blocking running scheme and failed to establish himself as at least a solid No. 2 through the first five weeks of training camp. As a result, he goes into the exhibition finale Friday against the Tennessee Titans needing to make believers out of the coaches that he can be effective in this system."

Story

I was under the impression we were running a ZBS here also.

I understand that we have installed a few of the plays from Shermans GB playbook.

Just as our opponents know when Bruener comes into the game they can disregard the passes to the TE, they will also know to focus on a much narrower portion of our playbook when Gado enters the game.

This team needs an identity. We zone block or we don't. I feel we need to focus on one way of doing things and doing them very well.

Our previous regime was into 'quick fixes' that usually didn't pan out.
( who was that washed up LT we signed last year and promptly handed the starting job.)

That's not to say that this is a quick fix, but forgive me for being leery.

But then again, I don't get the for coaching.

I am all for giving Kubiak time to straighten out this mess of a team.

Guess I'm just a worrier.

cuppacoffee said:

I was under the impression we were running a ZBS here also.

I understand that we have installed a few of the plays from Shermans GB playbook.

Just as our opponents know when Bruener comes into the game they can disregard the passes to the TE, they will also know to focus on a much narrower portion of our playbook when Gado enters the game.

This team needs an identity. We zone block or we don't. I feel we need to focus on one way of doing things and doing them very well.

Click to expand...

We had a broken ZBS, and we did pretty well running the ball last year.So I would assume with Kubiak coming over, we'd be pretty heavily a ZBS team. But so far, in the games that are supposed to show us what we've got(the preseason game against Denver, and the first game of the season), we've been predominately a "PowerRun" team, with a little ZBS thrown in there from time to time.

OUr Linemen, especially the left side, look like Power Running linemen.

Ron Dayne is familiar with the ZBS, but he also knows a thing or two about the power run game..... SamKonGado.... while you'd think his size & speed would make him perfect for the ZBS...... he doesn't get it.


Then you throw in that Kubiak has mentioned that we are in the first stage of learning the system..... I think we'll be a PowerRun team for quite some time, and transition to a ZBS team.

bigTEXan8 said:

.... Well, hopefully Gado can make a difference, maybe throw a block during pass-protection.

Click to expand...

If he throws a block during pass-protection that will be proof he does not understand the Texans way of running the offense!! LOL

cuppacoffee said:

Thanks for the response.

I am not pro Morency vs. Gado. I have learned my lesson about picking team favorites. ( Wand)

My concern is Gado was having trouble picking up the ZBS in Green Bay

"But it turned out Gado was slow to adapt to the team's new zone blocking running scheme and failed to establish himself as at least a solid No. 2 through the first five weeks of training camp. As a result, he goes into the exhibition finale Friday against the Tennessee Titans needing to make believers out of the coaches that he can be effective in this system."

Story

I was under the impression we were running a ZBS here also.

I understand that we have installed a few of the plays from Shermans GB playbook.

Just as our opponents know when Bruener comes into the game they can disregard the passes to the TE, they will also know to focus on a much narrower portion of our playbook when Gado enters the game.

This team needs an identity. We zone block or we don't. I feel we need to focus on one way of doing things and doing them very well.

Our previous regime was into 'quick fixes' that usually didn't pan out.
( who was that washed up LT we signed last year and promptly handed the starting job.)

That's not to say that this is a quick fix, but forgive me for being leery.

But then again, I don't get the for coaching.

I am all for giving Kubiak time to straighten out this mess of a team.

Guess I'm just a worrier.

Click to expand...

I totally understand your questioning of what is going on. So far we have not found anything that works for us, and we have been burnt BAD by the previous administration. It is hard for us to trust in change when we have been promised that before and the scene got worse.

Trust in this- Kubiak is no Capers, Casserly is long gone and Sherman has a history of winning games (minus last season, but GB had alot of injuries so that was a large part of their misery). Kubiak is showing he can be a hard arse when needed and could care less if what he does is the 'sexy' choice, but it may be the shocking and painful NEEDED choice.
I want someone who takes accountability for the team's actions. Kubes seems to do that. Now we have to find the leader ON the team...

This is the exact same thing that immediately ran through my head the moment I heard about the trade. I agree with you (referring to original post) and for the record I like the Gado trade although I had nothing against Morency.

Grid said:

Now, it has been mentioned (I think) by Kubiak that Gado would be getting carries in the Colts game, along with Dayne. I was thinking about that and I said to myself;

"self, how terrible is Gado gonna look in an offense that he has probably barely even cracked the playbook on?"

Click to expand...

Grid, talking to yourself is one thing, but when you start expecting an answer back that may indicate more serious problems. Are you sure those were Newports you were smoking? Seriously, I think the main reason they chose Gado was because Sherman was already familiar with him and they wanted a power back for short yardage.