Offense is being noticed

[frankcal20]

Saunders will change offense
Insider
By Chuck Knox Jr.
Scouts Inc.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the Redskins' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, fans in Washington had reason to be happy. The team had reached the postseason for the first time in years behind a solid defense and an offense that had made huge strides.

The Redskins ranked 11th in the league in total offense last year, but still had plenty of room for improvement, especially in the passing game. Washington finished seventh in the league in rushing but only 21st in passing, preventing the team from going deeper into the playoffs.

Joe Gibbs was looking for a way to upgrade his offense. His first move was to hire former Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders and give him control of the Redskins offense. To improve the wide receiving corps, Gibbs signed free agent Antwaan Randle El of the Pittsburgh Steelers and made a trade for San Francisco's Brandon Lloyd.

What can we expect from this new-look offense? Certainly more explosive plays (plays over 10 yards), as the Chiefs under Saunders were third in the league in explosive plays in 2005 with 231 (the Rams were first with 238). Meanwhile, the Redskins finished 18th in the league with 188, below the league average of 191.

Under Saunders the past five years, the Chiefs led the NFL in net yards, total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and first downs, and were second in points. Kansas City averaged 379 yards per game, scored 262 touchdowns and had a red-zone touchdown efficiency of 63 percent. If Joe Gibbs appears confident going into the preseason, it's because he is expecting more production and more points in 2007.

Saunders will use many different personnel groups, potentially changing them on every down. You are going to see formations with two backs, two tight ends, three and four wide receivers. This philosophy gives the Redskins an opportunity to create mismatches with opposing defenses, something necessary for success in the NFL.

Defensive coordinators will be forced to decide whether to stay in their base defense against three-wide receiver sets or bring in their nickel/dime package. If they stay in their base package, a linebacker will likely be matched up against the slot receiver, a matchup Saunders wants. If the defense tries to protect the linebacker with a Cover 2 scheme (a two-deep coverage with the safeties playing a deep half) it will open up the running game or give tight end Chris Cooley more versatility.

Cooley's move from H-back to TE will give him more opportunities to work the middle of the field short and deep. If a safety covers down on the slot receiver to get a better matchup, it will leave single coverage on the outside lanes, which the Redskins' receivers should exploit.

The acquisition of Randle El gives Saunders a versatile player who can be put in a number of playmaking positions. Look for Saunders to use Randle El the same way he used Dante Hall in Kansas City. Randle El will primarily play in the slot where he can take advantage of nickel backs. He will also be used in option and pivot routes where he can use his athletic ability to create separation and get open.

Randle El is a dangerous runner with the ball. Look for him on reverses and other gadget plays coming out of the backfield. As an ex-quarterback, he is also a threat to throw the ball anytime he gets behind the line of scrimmage.

Don't be surprised to see Randle El line up under center and run the option, either pitching the ball to running back Clinton Portis or throwing it downfield. Randle El was an option quarterback in college and is ideally suited for this role. Gibbs used this type of play with ex-Redskins running back Brian Mitchell in the early 1990's.

Randle El can also be lined up on the outside as the X or Z receiver, allowing Saunders to put Santana Moss in the slot. Moss should excel on the inside where he could be matched up with a nickle corner or a linebacker. Look for Moss to use his quickness on shallow crossing and pivot routes. These routes allow Moss to use his excellent ability to run after the catch.

Cooley probably will benefit the most by the hiring of Saunders, as Saunders' scheme relies on the tight end position. At Kansas City, he had Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez. Cooley, the Redskins' second leading receiver last year, probably will not duplicate the numbers he posted in 2005, but he will get his opportunities.

With this crop of wide receivers and Portis, the Redskins have several weapons that defenses will be determined to take away. Moss, Randle El or Lloyd will most likely draw some type of double coverage (either man or zone), leaving Cooley one-on-one with a linebacker or with a hole to exploit in a zone coverage.

If defenses are going to play a two-deep scheme to take away the outside receivers, look for Cooley to work the deep middle of the field on post routes, or the soft zones six to eight yards in the middle of the field.

While most of the talk this offseason has centered on the new passing game, Saunders' scheme is also running back friendly -- just ask Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson of the Chiefs. Portis should have another excellent year, as defenses are now going to face a difficult choice.

Do we make a concerted effort to stop Portis and the running game, leaving single coverage on the outside lanes? Or do we take away the pass with some type of middle open defense, giving Portis room to run against a soft run defense? Saunders' backs also have to be good receivers and pass blockers. Portis has excelled at both, but look for him to be used more in the passing game this season, either running routes out of the backfield or on screen plays.

The big question for this offense is whether QB Mark Brunell can make it through the entire season healthy. Saunders' quarterback in Kansas City, Trent Green, did not miss a start in five years. Saunders knows how to protect the quarterback (a healthy offensive line and a little luck also helped). With all the motions, shifts, different formations, changing personnel and the quick rhythm passing attack, defenses will likely be kept off balance.

Saunders' use of the screen pass will help slow down the pass rush because he does not use just one type of screen. He will run wide receiver screens to the outside, bubble screens to the slot receiver, tight end screens and throw back screens. Defenses will see the full gambit when they have to prepare for the Redskins. This will slow down the defensive line as it rushes the passer. Screens can often go for big yardage and demoralize a defense.

Brunell recently said he is not quite sure he has ever been on a team with this much talent. Not only do the Redskins have excellent defensive personnel, they now have a number of weapons on offense. This is going to be the most explosive Redskins' offense in recent memory.

The Redskins will challenge for the division title; don't be surprised to see them playing deep into January. The pieces are certainly in place. All that could stop them are injuries to key players.

[jazzyjimmy]

Glad to hear wer're gettin' some much deserved love. I think Fauria and Betts are also gonna have a solid impact in this system both blocking and making plays. Seeing Lloyd's diving catch in that Bengals game justified my love for that trade. Dude is so freaking athletic! And he's not our best receiver! We're gonna give Defensive coordinators fits this year!

[UK Skins Fan]

The skill positions are loaded, that's for sure. But I can't help worrying about Brunell's health and the o-line depth. I can also see this offence taking a few weeks to really click. With all the plays, formations and shifts, we have a recipe for plenty of penalties in the early weeks.

Still, we have the best head coach in the leagure, and the best offensive coordinator, so we shouldn't be too worried. Plus we have the best defensive coach in the league, and his defence will keep us in games until the offence really gets going.

[skinfaninla20]

Is there a link to this?

[1niksder]

Is there a link to this?

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic. ... t=saunders