Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post

joecrisp · 03-30-2004, 08:31 PM

I'm not sure how frequently it will be used, but Gibbs did flash an empty backfield look during minicamp, putting the runningback in motion to the slot. I do believe there was a tight end in that set, though.

I asked Gibbs if there were any offensive coordinators or offensive schemes that he had kept an eye on during his retirement, and if he would be incorporating aspects of those systems into his own offense. He said he would be using different wrinkles that he has borrowed from the top 5 offenses in 2003. Based on his glowing praise for Mike Martz' system in St. Louis, you can be sure that there will be "Martzian" elements infused with the traditional Gibbs playbook (which, ironically, was a major influence on Martz), and Martz has been known to employ 4 wide receivers from time to time. Sending Faulk in motion out of the backfield as an additional wideout is something Martz does with great success, and I can see Gibbs doing that on occasion with Portis and the other backs.

You can't rule out anything with Gibbs-- he will do whatever is necessary to make the best use of the weapons at his disposal. But I don't see him going to the 4- and 5-wide looks a whole lot. He will always prefer to keep at least 6 blockers in on any play, and that means that there will typically be a tight end in there somewhere, so the most wide receivers you would see in any set would be four. Of course, if the depth at WR pans out as well as it appears to be at this early point in the evaluation process, Gibbs could be tempted to put a 5-wide look out there-- but just for kicks!

03-30-2004, 08:31 PM	#4
joecrisp The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Age: 49 Posts: 1,501	I'm not sure how frequently it will be used, but Gibbs did flash an empty backfield look during minicamp, putting the runningback in motion to the slot. I do believe there was a tight end in that set, though. I asked Gibbs if there were any offensive coordinators or offensive schemes that he had kept an eye on during his retirement, and if he would be incorporating aspects of those systems into his own offense. He said he would be using different wrinkles that he has borrowed from the top 5 offenses in 2003. Based on his glowing praise for Mike Martz' system in St. Louis, you can be sure that there will be "Martzian" elements infused with the traditional Gibbs playbook (which, ironically, was a major influence on Martz), and Martz has been known to employ 4 wide receivers from time to time. Sending Faulk in motion out of the backfield as an additional wideout is something Martz does with great success, and I can see Gibbs doing that on occasion with Portis and the other backs. You can't rule out anything with Gibbs-- he will do whatever is necessary to make the best use of the weapons at his disposal. But I don't see him going to the 4- and 5-wide looks a whole lot. He will always prefer to keep at least 6 blockers in on any play, and that means that there will typically be a tight end in there somewhere, so the most wide receivers you would see in any set would be four. Of course, if the depth at WR pans out as well as it appears to be at this early point in the evaluation process, Gibbs could be tempted to put a 5-wide look out there-- but just for kicks!