The Buffalo Bill's Guide to Talent Abuse

[AKC]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team to instead try to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage. With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

 

Instead of running more we’re insisting on putting the games in the hands of the least experienced player on our offense. Instead of forcing our will in the run game and using the strength of our very good run blocking offensive line, our coaches have put a very unfortunate and inexperienced kid behind a line being asked to pass protect on most downs while pass protection is their obvious weakness. Add a nervous “rookie” QB and there’s simply one outcome any objective student of this game would predict- a disaster.

 

Those crazy Steelers? They rush more than 3 times for every 2 passes they let their young QB throw. In another Pitt reference, how can the mobile QB be on the bench for a 4th and inches play with the game on the line? Was Mularkey sleeping during the Slash years?

 

And that’s just on offense.

 

So we finally got to see Anderson play with the starting defense, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team clearly has blown it all season using Ron Edwards and having his butt knocked everywhere but into his gap on running downs. Anderson needs some work but he plays with a run stopper's base- he gets his feet set wide and he holds his position with infinitely greater frequency than Edwards. If not for the inept offensive performance yesterday our Rush D would have given up no more than 75 or 80 yards to Deuce McAllister. They fell apart on the last series but to their credit they’d played over 30 minutes of defense at that time and considering we have garbage for depth at the DT spot, the final breakdown shouldn’t have come as any shock.

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Defensively we’ve been using a part time pass rushing DT in our first down rushing package while someone more capable of run stuffing has been polishing pine.

 

In one case an injury is forcing the team to correct their own misuse of defensive talent- on the other side of the ball we can only hope that someone on this team takes the oars back from the decision maker responsible for this offensive folly and we move towards the Pitt model our staff came from- run the ball 3.2 times for every 2 pass plays. It's that simple.

[34-78-83]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team try instead to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage.  With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

 

Instead of running more we’re insisting on putting the games in the hands of the least experienced player on our offense. Instead of forcing our will in the run game and using the strength of our very good run blocking offensive line, our coaches have put a very unfortunate and inexperienced kid behind a line being asked to pass protect on most downs while pass protection is their obvious weakness. Add a nervous “rookie” QB and there’s simply one outcome any objective student of this game would predict- a disaster.

 

Those crazy Steelers? They rush more than 3 times for every 2 passes they let their young QB throw. In another Pitt reference, how can the mobile QB be on the bench for a 4th and inches play with the game on the line? Was Mularkey sleeping during the Slash years?

 

And that’s just on offense.

 

So we finally got to see Anderson play with the starting offense, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team clearly has blown it all season using Ron Edwards and having his butt knocked everywhere but into his gap on running downs. Anderson needs some work but he plays with a run stopper's base- he gets his feet set wide and he holds his position with infinitely greater frequency than Edwards. If not for the inept offensive performance yesterday our Rush D would have given up no more than 75 or 80 yards to Deuce McAllister. They fell apart on the last series but to their credit they’d played over 30 minutes of defense at that time and considering we have garbage for depth at the DT spot, the final breakdown shouldn’t have come as any shock.

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Defensively we’ve been using a part time pass rushing DT in our first down rushing package while someone more capable of run stuffing has been polishing pine.

 

In one case an injury is forcing the team to correct their own misuse of defensive talent- on the other side of the ball we can only hope that someone on this team takes the oars back from the decision maker responsible for this offensive folly and we move towards the Pitt model our staff came from- run the ball 3.2 times for every 2 pass plays. It's that simple.

463577[/snapback]

 

 

AKC, can you please email this to One Bills Drive? I'm not kidding... Really

There are plenty of email contacts on the official site...

[BuckeyeBill]

Fantastic post. You know what you are talking about.

[dave mcbride]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team to instead try to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage.  With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

 

Instead of running more we’re insisting on putting the games in the hands of the least experienced player on our offense. Instead of forcing our will in the run game and using the strength of our very good run blocking offensive line, our coaches have put a very unfortunate and inexperienced kid behind a line being asked to pass protect on most downs while pass protection is their obvious weakness. Add a nervous “rookie” QB and there’s simply one outcome any objective student of this game would predict- a disaster.

 

Those crazy Steelers? They rush more than 3 times for every 2 passes they let their young QB throw. In another Pitt reference, how can the mobile QB be on the bench for a 4th and inches play with the game on the line? Was Mularkey sleeping during the Slash years?

 

And that’s just on offense.

 

So we finally got to see Anderson play with the starting defense, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team clearly has blown it all season using Ron Edwards and having his butt knocked everywhere but into his gap on running downs. Anderson needs some work but he plays with a run stopper's base- he gets his feet set wide and he holds his position with infinitely greater frequency than Edwards. If not for the inept offensive performance yesterday our Rush D would have given up no more than 75 or 80 yards to Deuce McAllister. They fell apart on the last series but to their credit they’d played over 30 minutes of defense at that time and considering we have garbage for depth at the DT spot, the final breakdown shouldn’t have come as any shock.

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Defensively we’ve been using a part time pass rushing DT in our first down rushing package while someone more capable of run stuffing has been polishing pine.

 

In one case an injury is forcing the team to correct their own misuse of defensive talent- on the other side of the ball we can only hope that someone on this team takes the oars back from the decision maker responsible for this offensive folly and we move towards the Pitt model our staff came from- run the ball 3.2 times for every 2 pass plays. It's that simple.

463577[/snapback]

 

this is a great post, but i do think there's one error in your logic. pitt is an incredibly efficient passing team, and the bills aren't. i know you might conclude that this only proves your point, but what actually happens is that the bills offense ends up digging itself into a hole. because you can't simply rush the entire length of the field and expect to score in the nfl, you've got to be able to pass the ball effectively, to mix it up. the bills can't pass effectively, which puts them in a hole score wise. they then do what every team in the history of the nfl has done -- start passing. they do it a little too early for my liking, but all the same the reason they pass as much as they do is because they're so ineffective at it. you have to able to move the ball through the air. if you can't, you're simply not going to score. pitt throws less percentage wise partly because of philosophy but partly because they've got a qb who completes close to 70% of his passes and averages 8-10 yards per attempt. the bills have a guy who averages less than 50% and is south of 5 yards per attempt. again, i know it sounds counterintuitive, but they have to keep trying. a bad passing game cannot win you games in the nfl. just ask the ravens, a team that for the past few years has been sound everywhere except in the passing game.

[Alaska Darin]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team to instead try to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage.  With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

 

Instead of running more we’re insisting on putting the games in the hands of the least experienced player on our offense. Instead of forcing our will in the run game and using the strength of our very good run blocking offensive line, our coaches have put a very unfortunate and inexperienced kid behind a line being asked to pass protect on most downs while pass protection is their obvious weakness. Add a nervous “rookie” QB and there’s simply one outcome any objective student of this game would predict- a disaster.

 

Those crazy Steelers? They rush more than 3 times for every 2 passes they let their young QB throw. In another Pitt reference, how can the mobile QB be on the bench for a 4th and inches play with the game on the line? Was Mularkey sleeping during the Slash years?

 

And that’s just on offense.

 

So we finally got to see Anderson play with the starting defense, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team clearly has blown it all season using Ron Edwards and having his butt knocked everywhere but into his gap on running downs. Anderson needs some work but he plays with a run stopper's base- he gets his feet set wide and he holds his position with infinitely greater frequency than Edwards. If not for the inept offensive performance yesterday our Rush D would have given up no more than 75 or 80 yards to Deuce McAllister. They fell apart on the last series but to their credit they’d played over 30 minutes of defense at that time and considering we have garbage for depth at the DT spot, the final breakdown shouldn’t have come as any shock.

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Defensively we’ve been using a part time pass rushing DT in our first down rushing package while someone more capable of run stuffing has been polishing pine.

 

In one case an injury is forcing the team to correct their own misuse of defensive talent- on the other side of the ball we can only hope that someone on this team takes the oars back from the decision maker responsible for this offensive folly and we move towards the Pitt model our staff came from- run the ball 3.2 times for every 2 pass plays. It's that simple.

463577[/snapback]

Thank you for taking the time to say what I've been thinking.

 

Mularkey has been talking about this since the day they hired him. It's driving me crazy. Willis rips off 25 yards one play and the next one is a friggin' flea flicker. I'm losing my mind.

[AKC]

this is a great post, but i do think there's one error in your logic.  pitt is an incredibly efficient passing team, and the bills aren't. i know you might conclude that this only proves your point, but what actually happens is that the bills offense ends up digging itself into a hole. because you can't simply rush the entire length of the field and expect to score in the nfl, you've got to be able to pass the ball effectively, to mix it up. the bills can't pass effectively, which puts them in a hole score wise. they then do what every team in the history of the nfl has done -- start passing. they do it a little too early for my liking, but all the same the reason they pass as much as they do is because they're so ineffective at it. you have to able to move the ball through the air. if you can't, you're simply not going to score. pitt throws less percentage wise partly because of philosophy but partly because they've got a qb who completes close to 70% of his passes and averages 8-10 yards per attempt. the bills have a guy who averages less than 50% and is south of 5 yards per attempt.  again, i know it sounds counterintuitive, but they have to keep trying. a bad passing game cannot win you games in the nfl. just ask the ravens, a team that for the past few years has been sound everywhere except in the passing game.

463636[/snapback]

 

I realize you know another of the arguments here, but I'll put it into play anyway-

 

Pittsburgh is effective passing BECAUSE they are more likely to run the ball. Opposing defenses see the run more than the pass plus Pitt runs effectively, and this puts the D on its heels. On those limited downs when they do pass, the D simply can't get in BRs face since they have to be prepared for the run on nearly any down.

[dave mcbride]

I realize you know another of the arguments here, but I'll put it into play anyway-

 

Pittsburgh is effective passing BECAUSE they are more likely to run the ball. Opposing defenses see the run more than the pass plus Pitt runs effectively, and this puts the D on its heels. On those limited downs when they do pass, the D simply can't get in BRs face since they have to be prepared for the run on nearly any down.

463698[/snapback]

agreed, but the other thing is that roethlisberger is good, highly accurate and throws to good receivers. plus he's been that way pretty much since day one. the bills have pretty good receivers too, but the qb can't deliver. he did in the first half against the texans and in a couple of other spots, but it's been downhill since then. i guess it's a chicken-egg thing, but all the same the qb has to produce better than he has been producing. whether that will happen is anyone's guess. it's still too early to tell. fwiw, the bills pretty ran the system you prefer last year -- they ran it 470 (i'm including a guesstimate of legit qb rushes, including kneel downs, plus 12 WR runs) times and passed it roughly 310 times (i'm factoring in the 38 sacks into this and the qb rushes minus 15 planned qb rushing plays [kneel downs, sneaks]).

 

by my calculations, they ran it 60.3% of the time last year, which had to be one was one of the highest percentages in the league. i mean, that's really high, considering that most teams, i think, throw more than they run. so it's not as if this is a pass first coaching staff.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf2004.htm

[Gavin in Va Beach]

AKC for GM!

[finknottle]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team to instead try to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage.  With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

:

463577[/snapback]

 

Passing effectively in the first half sets you up for big running numbers in the second half, even if you fall behind, because they're playing the pass.

 

Running effectively in the first half doesn't help you if you're behind, because they'll still play the pass.

 

It's no accident that most running yards are gained by the winning team in the second half (see Saints).

 

Put another way, the pass sets up the run. The run sets up the punt.

[AKC]

Put another way,  the pass sets up the run.  The run sets up the punt.

463744[/snapback]

 

History makes a far better argument for the opposite. While we've had a contemporary champion in the Rams who used the pass to set up the rest of their offense, it's difficult to point to one other non-West Coast O champion who didn't use a running offense and line to set up their passing games.

[Simon]

roethlisberger is good, highly accurate and throws to good receivers. plus he's been that way pretty much since day one.

I think this is a highly questionable statement perpetuated by a media who is all-too-eager to coronate the next great thing every other week.

Look at his last 5 games last year when he actually started to play against some solid defenses (Jets, Ravens, Pats) as opposed to earlier in the year when he was enjoying a steady diet of teams like Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dallas.

Over that stretch he tthrew only 6TD's and turned the ball over 11 times. This even though he was playing behind arguably the NFL's best OLine, throwing to arguable the NFL's best receiving corps and was supported by arguably the NFL's best defense as well as arguably the NFL's best running game.

Yet his turnover to TD ratio was nearly 2:1.

He was not that good down the stretch last year when he had to face good defenses and was flat-out horrid in both of his postseason games when faced with quality opponents.

Cya

[AKC]

AKC for GM!

463735[/snapback]

 

The GM's work is pretty much done for the season, our fate lies in the hands of the coaches. Maybe we could suggest to OBD a "Tell us why in 2000 words or less you should...." Coach a Game Contest ;-)

[stuckincincy]

 

It is no surprise that

463577[/snapback]

 

Drinkin' wine, Spo Dee O Dee?

[Crap Throwing Monkey]

Thank you for taking the time to say what I've been thinking.

 

Mularkey has been talking about this since the day they hired him.  It's driving me crazy.  Willis rips off 25 yards one play and the next one is a friggin' flea flicker.  I'm losing my mind.

463644[/snapback]

 

A busted flea flicker, no less.

[dave mcbride]

I think this is a highly questionable statement perpetuated by a media who is all-too-eager to coronate the next great thing every other week.

Look at his last 5 games last year when he actually started to play against some solid defenses (Jets, Ravens, Pats) as opposed to earlier in the year when he was enjoying a steady diet of teams like Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dallas.

Over that stretch he tthrew only 6TD's and turned the ball over 11 times. This even though he was playing behind arguably the NFL's best OLine, throwing to arguable the NFL's best receiving corps and was supported by arguably the NFL's best defense as well as arguably the NFL's best running game.

Yet his turnover to TD ratio was nearly 2:1.

He was not that good down the stretch last year when he had to face good defenses and was flat-out horrid in both of his postseason games when faced with quality opponents.

Cya

463755[/snapback]

 

i'm talking about accuracy and ypa in the aggregate, not individual games. yes, he'll play less well against better teams -- that's in the nature of things. in the aggregate, he had a 66.4% completion rate last year and averaged 8.9 ypa. that's spectacular. this year, he'd doing less well completion wise (58.3%) but is averaging a staggering 11.5 ypa.

[ATBNG]

The GM's work is pretty much done for the season, our fate lies in the hands of the coaches. Maybe we could suggest to OBD a "Tell us why in 2000 words or less you should...." Coach a Game Contest ;-)

463758[/snapback]

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Can't say I agree with this. Donahoe has not exclusively built a ball control running offense. Evans and Losman with his first two picks in '04, and Parrish with his first two picks (with #1 obviously invested earlier in the 2004 draft) in '05. Neither Evans and Parrish are running game oriented wide receivers (like a Keyshawn Johnson or a Hines Ward) - they're both downfield speed threats (in Parrish's case, maybe one who projects as a return man).

 

Going back farther TD drafted Reed, signed Moulds to a big bucks long term deal, and traded a #1 for Bledsoe, who has been debated about ad nauseum but both detractors and supporters probably would agree that Drew needs above average skill position players around him to be successful.

 

Tough to put this failure to commit to the run all on the coaches with the GM's resource management track record. Donahoe has oscillated for six years on just what type of offense he wants, which has left them with an offense that is designed to run at RB and OL, but not on the outside or at TE. Donahoe must share some of this responsibility.

[AKC]

Drinkin' wine, Spo Dee O Dee?

463765[/snapback]

 

Maybe tonight, bad idea to throw a big tannic rhone on top of that two gallons of "football breakfast".

[AKC]

Can't say I agree with this. Donahoe has not exclusively built a ball control running offense. Evans and Losman with his first two picks in '04, and Parrish with his first two picks (with #1 obviously invested earlier in the 2004 draft) in '05. Neither Evans and Parrish are running game oriented wide receivers (like a Keyshawn Johnson or a Hines Ward) - they're both downfield speed threats (in Parrish's case, maybe one who projects as a return man).

 

463809[/snapback]

 

IMO the running game is built from the inside out, not the other way around. I'm trying to think of any "exclusively" power running team that completely ignored adding some speed at WR and sacrificing blocking, and I don't doubt there's some historical example (especially prior to the 70s), but I'd say among the contemporary power runners you can find that speed/blocking tradeoff on the most succesful examples.

 

Our running game is built on offensive linemen who are far better run blockers than pass blockers, specifically citing our RG and LT as much more effective run blocking. The blocking schemes are also more set for power running with substantial assign and seal duties instead of a stretch or finesse style blocking scheme like Shanahan uses in Denver. We're probably using a FB as much as all but 3 or 4 other teams and we also rely heavily on two-TE running sets. All that to me adds up to a power running scheme that wants desperately to beat an opponent up seems to lose the commitment to do it come gameday.

[Greybeard]

But only if the team recognizes their unbelievable misuse of talent.

 

It is no surprise that on only one more series in the game following our successful opening drive did we run more frequently than we passed. Otherwise, this coaching staff did what they’ve done all year- they’ve blatantly ignored the talent on the team to instead try to force their own offensive and defensive concepts on the roster.

 

The problem, of course, is that the offensive and defense they want to run don’t fit the talent we have. And make no mistake, we have some very good talent on this roster.

 

We’ve assembled a good run blocking offensive line that has played so well Willis McGahee has rushed for more yards than all but 6 other backs in the league. Even though we have an obvious and measurable strength giving the ball to our feature back, Willis has less carries than any of those backs in front of him in yardage.  With less carries and less chances to tear off a big run (something he hasn’t done yet this season) he’s still averaging 4.8 yards a carry.

 

We have thrown more passes this season than we have handed the ball to our running backs.

 

Instead of running more we’re insisting on putting the games in the hands of the least experienced player on our offense. Instead of forcing our will in the run game and using the strength of our very good run blocking offensive line, our coaches have put a very unfortunate and inexperienced kid behind a line being asked to pass protect on most downs while pass protection is their obvious weakness. Add a nervous “rookie” QB and there’s simply one outcome any objective student of this game would predict- a disaster.

 

Those crazy Steelers? They rush more than 3 times for every 2 passes they let their young QB throw. In another Pitt reference, how can the mobile QB be on the bench for a 4th and inches play with the game on the line? Was Mularkey sleeping during the Slash years?

 

And that’s just on offense.

 

So we finally got to see Anderson play with the starting defense, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team clearly has blown it all season using Ron Edwards and having his butt knocked everywhere but into his gap on running downs. Anderson needs some work but he plays with a run stopper's base- he gets his feet set wide and he holds his position with infinitely greater frequency than Edwards. If not for the inept offensive performance yesterday our Rush D would have given up no more than 75 or 80 yards to Deuce McAllister. They fell apart on the last series but to their credit they’d played over 30 minutes of defense at that time and considering we have garbage for depth at the DT spot, the final breakdown shouldn’t have come as any shock.

 

The bottom line is that we built a ball control running offense and our coaches refuse to commit to it EVEN WHEN WE’RE KILLING OUR OPPONENT.

 

Defensively we’ve been using a part time pass rushing DT in our first down rushing package while someone more capable of run stuffing has been polishing pine.

 

In one case an injury is forcing the team to correct their own misuse of defensive talent- on the other side of the ball we can only hope that someone on this team takes the oars back from the decision maker responsible for this offensive folly and we move towards the Pitt model our staff came from- run the ball 3.2 times for every 2 pass plays. It's that simple.

463577[/snapback]

 

 

The Bills should hire you as a consultant.

[ATBNG]

IMO the running game is built from the inside out, not the other way around. I'm trying to think of any "exclusively" power running team that completely ignored adding some speed at WR and sacrificing blocking, and I don't doubt there's some historical example (especially prior to the 70s), but I'd say among the contemporary power runners you can find that speed/blocking tradeoff on the most succesful examples.

 

Our running game is built on offensive linemen who are far better run blockers than pass blockers, specifically citing our RG and LT as much more effective run blocking. The blocking schemes are also more set for power running with substantial assign and seal duties instead of a stretch or finesse style blocking scheme like Shanahan uses in Denver. We're probably using a FB as much as all but 3 or 4 other teams and we also rely heavily on two-TE running sets. All that to me adds up to a power running scheme that wants desperately to beat an opponent up seems to lose the commitment to do it come gameday.

463829[/snapback]

 

I agree with all of that - 100% - but "some speed" is incongruous with investing the last two years first two rounds exclusively on the QB/WR position. In today's NFL (including the implicit cap commitment that comes with making first and second round selections), that is an enormous expenditure of resources in one area.

 

Your analysis is perfectly reasonable on what they are trying to accomplish, but I just don't then agree with the conclusion that it's all on the coaches and Donahoe is off the hook (while accepting the thought that the coaches would be better off committing to the run in these games). Too much of the money and draft picks available to go into this inside out power running offense has gone to the outside to say that Donahoe has given Mularkey and company exactly what they need to implement this power running game.

 

Chargers are a good example - they are a run first team and because they run (extremely) well with LT and that line they can pass very effectively, but look at how they acquired their receivers. McCardell came for a 3rd and 6th round pick, Caldwell was a second round pick, and Gates and Parker were UDFA's. VERY different from the Donahoe track record/strategy.