A Return of the Running Game?

In order for the offense to be more balanced in 2012 than it was in 2011, the Redskins have to improve in the running game. Last season, the Redskins were 25th in the NFL in rushing and 14th in passing. That's not balanced at all. If Helu Jr. and Royster can improve in the ground game, then there's a chance the Redskins can be a more balanced offensive team.

If the Redskins can run the ball 25-35 times a game and throw 30 attempts a game, then that would be well balanced. Shanahan is the type of head coach that would open up airing it out and go up by 14 or 17 points and then run the ball for the remainder of the game if the defense is shutting down the opposing offense.Thanks for your thoughts above.

I have a couple focused questions for you:

Do you expect the 2012 offense to be more balanced? (i.e. run the ball more then last year)

Do you want the 2012 Redskins to be more balanced?

Do you really think Kyle wants to run the ball more?

Under Zorn the Redskins were a terrible team. How do you start off 6-2 in 2008 and finish 8-8? In 2009 Redskins were worse than Richie Pettibon's 1993 squad although both of those teams finished with a 4-12 record. Anyways, in the years since Gibbs left and Shanahan took over, the Redskins were a dismal looking team to watch. They were not an explosive team at all.

Zorn's first half success was likely due to:

1) He did run things differently than any other NFL coach. This was ultimately his downfall, but at first, opponents had to figure out what the heck he was trying to do on the field

2) At first, he brought motivation and fun to the team in practice and on gameday. Remember the "hip hip hoorays". The players in interviews admitted it was corny and had no idea why they were doing it, but they were having fun and believed in him...while they were winning. Once the losses started coming, the team thought he was not a serious coach and the kid-like "fun" was no longer cutting it...so he lost the locker room, especially a team leader in Portis.

I'll always remember him for chucking yoga balls at the QBs in practice, the slip-n-slide drills and the swinging gate. The best part was he called a time-out after showing the formation, came out of the timeout and still ran it! Since he was a lame duck coach who had already been stripped of his power and dignity, I really think that was just a big middle finger to the organization and Dan Snyder...on Primetime National TV!

Zorn's first half success was likely due to:

1) He did run things differently than any other NFL coach. This was ultimately his downfall, but at first, opponents had to figure out what the heck he was trying to do on the field

2) At first, he brought motivation and fun to the team in practice and on gameday. Remember the "hip hip hoorays". The players in interviews admitted it was corny and had no idea why they were doing it, but they were having fun and believed in him...while they were winning. Once the losses started coming, the team thought he was not a serious coach and the kid-like "fun" was no longer cutting it...so he lost the locker room, especially a team leader in Portis.

I'll always remember him for chucking yoga balls at the QBs in practice, the slip-n-slide drills and the swinging gate. The best part was he called a time-out after showing the formation, came out of the timeout and still ran it! Since he was a lame duck coach who had already been stripped of his power and dignity, I really think that was just a big middle finger to the organization and Dan Snyder...on Primetime National TV!

I don't think he was smart enough for it to intentionally be a middle finger to the organization. And what does that do anyway? 'Ha! I screwed you by making myself look stupid. Take that!' I think that play only proves that he is 2 points higher than legally retarded.

I don't think he was dumb enough to show his cards and run it after a timeout though. He's not a dumb man, he was a successful NFL QB, which takes a brain. He's also a very good QB coach...but as a HC was in over his head.

I excuse the marroon and yellow and black comment as him spending too much time in Seattle...that place is REALLY OUT THERE and I'm not talking just geographically. I work with someone from Seattle too.

I don't think he was dumb enough to show his cards and run it after a timeout though. He's not a dumb man, he was a successful NFL QB, which takes a brain. He's also a very good QB coach...but as a HC was in over his head.

I excuse the marroon and yellow and black comment as him spending too much time in Seattle...that place is REALLY OUT THERE and I'm not talking just geographically. I work with someone from Seattle too.

What would he gain from showing the formation? I just don't see how that would 'shove it in the organization's face' so to speak.

I don't think he was dumb enough to show his cards and run it after a timeout though. He's not a dumb man, he was a successful NFL QB, which takes a brain. He's also a very good QB coach...but as a HC was in over his head.

I excuse the marroon and yellow and black comment as him spending too much time in Seattle...that place is REALLY OUT THERE and I'm not talking just geographically. I work with someone from Seattle too.

IMO yeah, he was (temporarily) dumb enough.

Thanks for your thoughts above.

I have a couple focused questions for you:

Do you expect the 2012 offense to be more balanced? (i.e. run the ball more then last year)

Do you want the 2012 Redskins to be more balanced?

Do you really think Kyle wants to run the ball more?

The Redskins haven't had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2008. I do expect them to run the ball a lot once they have the lead. But I expect them to throw it when the are trying to establish a lead. The NFL is a pass happy league so look for the Redskins to throw the ball more than they run.

Yes, I do expect the 2012 Washington Redskins offense to be more balanced. But being balanced means mixing in a certain number of passes with a mixture of runs.

I expect Kyle Shanahan to want to call more pass plays. He didn't have the 4th best offense in Houston in 2009 by running the ball. He wants to establish the Washington offense as an explosive offense. With Garcon, Hankerson, Morgan, and F. Davis to go along with a trimmed down Moss, I expect this season to be the Redskins most offensive explosion under Kyle Shanahan's direction yet.

The Redskins haven't had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2008. I do expect them to run the ball a lot once they have the lead. But I expect them to throw it when the are trying to establish a lead. The NFL is a pass happy league so look for the Redskins to throw the ball more than they run.

Yes, I do expect the 2012 Washington Redskins offense to be more balanced. But being balanced means mixing in a certain number of passes with a mixture of runs.

I expect Kyle Shanahan to want to call more pass plays. He didn't have the 4th best offense in Houston in 2009 by running the ball. He wants to establish the Washington offense as an explosive offense. With Garcon, Hankerson, Morgan, and F. Davis to go along with a trimmed down Moss, I expect this season to be the Redskins most offensive explosion under Kyle Shanahan's direction yet.Based on your reply I'm gonna guess the answers to the questions (correct me if I'm wrong)

Do you expect the 2012 offense to be more balanced? (i.e. run the ball more then last year)
No

Do you want the 2012 Redskins to be more balanced?
? No

Do you really think Kyle wants to run the ball more?
No

The Redskins haven't had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2008. I do expect them to run the ball a lot once they have the lead. But I expect them to throw it when the are trying to establish a lead. The NFL is a pass happy league so look for the Redskins to throw the ball more than they run.

Yes, I do expect the 2012 Washington Redskins offense to be more balanced. But being balanced means mixing in a certain number of passes with a mixture of runs.

I expect Kyle Shanahan to want to call more pass plays. He didn't have the 4th best offense in Houston in 2009 by running the ball. He wants to establish the Washington offense as an explosive offense. With Garcon, Hankerson, Morgan, and F. Davis to go along with a trimmed down Moss, I expect this season to be the Redskins most offensive explosion under Kyle Shanahan's direction yet.

But how do you have a great passing attack? By having to keep the defense honest with a great running attach and using play action. We have seen Shanny make diamonds out of thin air when it comes to running backs. If we can stay healthy, IF, on the offensive line I think we will have a serious ground threat that will definitely help the passing game with our new competent QB and WR's.

So do I think we will run more? Yes. But it will be to help the passing game as well. Do I think Shanny Jr. wants to run more? No. He seems like a pass happy kind of dude. But we aren't Houston. We don't have Andre Johnson. Find the balance. Win the game.

...So do I think we will run more? Yes. But it will be to help the passing game as well. Do I think Shanny Jr. wants to run more? No. He seems like a pass happy kind of dude. But we aren't Houston. We don't have Andre Johnson. Find the balance. Win the game.I'm hoping we run more also.
But like you said Kyle is a pass happy OC.
He'll have more weapons in the passing game then ever before since he's been in DC. (Griff, Garcon, Hankerson, Morgan, Paul)


If Kyle is a pass happy OC (like he's shown himself to be) then I'm not sure what would compel him to run the ball more.