Shanahan and the Running Game

davy

I always thought that it was Alex Gibbs who was the brains behind the Denver running game.

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Hail to the Redskins

I guess that's part of my point for the thread...

Is it Shanahan's running scheme or A. Gibbs?

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Lotus

Maybe Gibbs will be coming, too, making the question moot.

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Longtimefan

Denver's running game is designed for smaller quicker linemen with good lateral movement who can execute the strength of their running game which is the stretch plays.

I'm wondering if any of the linemen we currently have on our roster are the type that would be ideal for that type of running game. We have more plodders and maulers than finesse players. If Shanahan comes to Washington we may have to make more changes on the OL than maybe we had anticipated.

tryfuhl

The Texans have a horrible running game this year. Gibbs did have the Falcons running well when he was with them though.

Shanahan had a 1000+ yd rusher from 2004-2006 and several good backups. In 2007 Selvin Young and Travis Henry split starts and each ran for about 700. Averages were 5.2 and 4.1. In 2008 no back started more than 6 games and the highest single total was 343 at an avg of 5.0.

Falcons and Texans had some good rushing years as well while Gibbs was there and the Falcons still did pretty well after he left. Kind of hard to say who's responsible, seems like they're both pretty competent at it.

SBXVII

The O-line sucks. We need to "Rebuild" the O-line. It doesn't matter if we must pick up new bruisers or new smaller quicker lineman.

FRPLG

Exactly which linemen were we planning on keeping? Dock is the only one I think that could eveb be remotely considered. And he's only OK. The other four are either awful or the position doesn't even have a real starter at. All five are gone by the 2011 season at the latest,

The Goat

LOL we need to recycle the line anyway...might as well get what Shanny needs to make to work. Maybe Dock can continue to start but other than that we need to cut guys or just keep them as serviceable backups.

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SouperMeister

Alex Gibb's zone blocking scheme was the key to Denver's rushing success, but I wonder whether his preference for smaller, more athletic O-linemen would be overpowered by the strong D-lines of the NFC East.

LandrySlice

I don't think it matters, the Chargers always had some big D lines out in the AFC west, but I guess we will see!

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Longtimefan

I was thinking the same thing, but if that will indeed be his preference our current line will need a complete makeover. We do face a combination of both strength and size in our NFC east competitors. Speed and quickness has been known to win out over size and strength depending on the scheme. Denvers' O-lines of the past have revolutionized the chop-block.

Longtimefan

Oakland & KC as well.

rbanerjee23

It should go to show how important and high a priority OL is to Shanny...I am so happy that we may finally get a GM + HC that understand the importance of building the trenches.

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