How will Saunders affect our running game?

[Redskins_P]

Offiss started a thread about the QB situation, so I decided to start one about the running game.

We all know the success KC had with Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes. How different is Saunders running scheme compared to Gibbs'? Will we see more stretch plays? Counters? Screens? Larry Johnson put up some nice numbers yardage wise and TD's. I can see Portis having another record breaking season for us.

I think the biggest benefitor of all of this is Portis and obviously the offensive line.

What do you guys think?

[12thMan]

Wow, we're all over this one, huh? You would have thought this was the first day of the draft.

I mentioned on the QB thread that Saunders will further expand on Gibbs' current philosophy. He'll add a wrinkle here and there and inject some new play calling.

I don't, however, that any single player will be transformed by this one move alone.

[dmek25]

this will probably help alot with the run game by using the screen pass to portis.nothing slows down d lineman like a screen

[jdlea]

I don't think that it will change any one player, but the entire unit. I think Portis will be better, the QB play will be better, playcalling won't be so stale, the O Line will be better and Cooley will get more passes. I think this offense will be transformed.

[SanFranSkinsFan]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

Offiss started a thread about the QB situation, so I decided to start one about the running game.

We all know the success KC had with Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes. How different is Saunders running scheme compared to Gibbs'? Will we see more stretch plays? Counters? Screens? Larry Johnson put up some nice numbers yardage wise and TD's. I can see Portis having another record breaking season for us.

I think the biggest benefitor of all of this is Portis and obviously the offensive line.

What do you guys think?

Yeah, this move can only make Portis better, but he's already pretty good. What Saunders really should do is see if he can make Taylor Jacobs into something more than eye candy.

[skinsguy]

There isn't much of a difference in the philosophy of Saunders to Gibbs. Both offenses are pretty much the same, with Saunders basically opening things up more downfield - which should make alot of people here very happy. You'll probably see alot more screen passes (remember that screen pass to Priest Holmes that went all the way for a TD against us?) I believe if anything, this will help to further the offensive philosophy of Joe Gibbs, but Saunders has the keys to really make the philosophy really shine (with having a top ranked offense for the past few years!)

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by SanFranSkinsFan

Yeah, this move can only make Portis better, but he's already pretty good. What Saunders really should do is see if he can make Taylor Jacobs into something more than eye candy.

Saunders is good, but he 'aint no magician!

[crafty]

Taylor Jacobs Is Almost Is Like Desmond Howard A Waste Of A Good Draft Pick.i Say Lets Get A Proven Wide Receiver Threw Free Agency.lets Not Waste Our Draft Picks This Yr.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Saunders is good, but he 'aint no magician!

HAHA. True.

I think Jacobs needs to go hang out with Barry Bonds and do a couple of cycles in the offseason.

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by SanFranSkinsFan

Yeah, this move can only make Portis better, but he's already pretty good. What Saunders really should do is see if he can make Taylor Jacobs into something more than eye candy.

I'm totally done with Jacobs. In my eyes, he's officially hit "bust" status.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

I'm totally done with Jacobs. In my eyes, he's officially hit "bust" status.

Taylor Jacobs is dead to me.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Taylor Jacobs is dead to me.

No doubt!

[AnonEmouse]

Guys, stick the WR talk in the passing game thread. Unless of course he moves Jacobs to running back!

My thoughts:

As far as the running game goes, it depends who we have at #2 WR next year. If we can open the passing game up enough to stop the keying on Moss and Portis, then we end up blocking 8 on 7 in the box more often. That gives us more potential for long runs. Even if POrtis grinds out another 1500+ yards, we need big plays to improve this offense.

Likewise, as I said in the passing thread, we need to improve the OL. We need pass protection as good as our run blocking, and we need both to be excellent. If the passing game can keep 4 back in coverage, we end up with better blocking all round. But we need a guard who can pull and lay the wood virtually every time we run a coutner etc. Dockery is OK, and we'll be fine with Thomas if he's back 100%, but we need someone that can blow people off the ball from the guard spot. If we can push the DL 4 yards downfield on 90% of runs between the tackles, sooner or later Portis will break big runs to the outside or bust a tackle and bomb straight down the middle.

An upgrade at TE will also help.

[skindogger47]

I would just like to point out that after seeing what Portis did to Kansas City while he was on the Broncos, Saunders is probably licking his chops at the chance to use his newest young stud RB. Portis, by the way, is younger than LJ.

[SmootSmack]

I think it will be a huge positive for our running game. You know that Saunders won't abandon the running game.