H-back Position Disappearing ?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

And I'm perfectly fine with that. Just remember, number one offense in the league with KANSAS CITY'S skill position players. They had Gonzo and Holmes. That's IT.

Yeah but their O-line was also one of the best in the league.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yup, and so is ours.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

When Saunders was brought in it was in the middle of several HC openings. He turned down the Oakland job in favor of this job. Gibbs stated in no uncertain terms that he was assuming a more mangerial function seeing as how is President of football OPS and HC. He said Saunders would have complete control of the offense and based on the fact that Saunders turned down a HC job I'd say he was quite sure he indeed would. Saunders is the offense now. Gibbs may say "hey what do you think of this?" but Saunders is the man with the plan.

I don't think it was very clear what was said of the duties and responsibilities. I don't think they had a clear and defined understanding themselves when he was first hired.

To me, the h-back position disappearing cleared this up for me.

[saden1]

I don't remember Cooley ever running the ball last year. Was Larry Centers a HB? While he didn't do a lot of shifting he ran the ball and caught the ball too.

[warriorzpath]

Here's a link from the press conference of Saunders's hiring.

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=15160

This is what Gibbs says on his role:
"Basically, he will oversee and direct the offense. It will free me up to do some other things. I plan on keeping abreast of what's going on, but it will allow me to have more flexibility here."

But with Al Saunders, he kind of leaves his and gibbs's roles a little open.
On his title:
"It's not about titles it is about production. We are going to work together as a staff and we are going to share in the responsibilities. Everybody on that offensive staff will have tremendous value. I'm sure I will call the first play of the first game of the season and then Joe (Gibbs) might get on that headset and call the rest of them. I am looking forward to working with everybody."

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Sure it's not fair, but I'm entitled to my opinion. I think he should have taken himself out of the game if he knew he was going to play like that.

Part of being a good quarterback is the desire to always be the man no matter what happens. That doesn't mean not being a team player. It means that if it was your decision to play or not, you play. Every snap. It's on the coaching staff to replace him if they didn't believe he was ready to go. Gibbs played him (presumably for offensive continuity and game management), and that's good enough for me.

I'd be far more worried about Brunell if he had pulled himself at the end of the year than I would be if he played through it poorly.

[warriorzpath]

Tell me if that doesn't make you wonder how their roles were going to play out and who gets what responsibility.

This is just the first time I clearly noticed that hb was gone from the offense and Al Saunders taking the offensive reigns in the same story.

[GTripp0012]

For sake of arguement, let's say Cooley plays a Richardson style FB on some plays, and a pre2006 Cooley style H Back on others.

I think his role, which in great part determines the direction of the offense, will slowly go one way or the other as Saunders learns how to best utilize the talent. If Saunders thinks he's a more successful H, he will work that in. If Cooley works on his drive blocking, and becomes a FB, then he will play more of that. Either way, expect a diet of both in the preseason and early in the regular season.

Don't expect him to play an in line TE. That's why Fauria was brought in. When Fauria isn't in, Lloyd/Randle El will be in a 3 wide.

[GTripp0012]

When Cooley lined up at TE last year, it was a shotgun situation, meaning either pass or draw. Cooley is a pretty good pass blocker for a TE/FB/H-B.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

This is just the first time I clearly noticed that hb was gone from the offense and Al Saunders taking the offensive reigns in the same story.

the change on the team's roster (at redskins.com) changed almost immediately to remove all H-backs and list them as either FBs or TEs. cooley missing the pro-bowl due to being mislabelled as a FB probably also had something to do with it.

[dmek25]

everyone is getting in an uproar over nothing.cooley came to the redskins as a tight end.he will play te again with the skins.i doubt you see him in the backfield,except to block.but you will see him on the field because he is one of the playmakers

[GTripp0012]

I still worry about changing something that was working, but it sure beats worrying about something that wasn't working and remains unchanged.

[JWsleep]

Saw this up at extremeskins--seems relevant. Saunders knows about the h-back, and will use it when it creates matchup problems, which is what his offense is all about. Anyway, it's an interesting read, from 2004 when the chiefs drafted TE Kris Wilson (who got hurt and never really got going). People asked why draft another TE when they had Gonzales. The answer: H-back, basically. Check it out.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...11815749/print

[MTK]

Saunders' offense doesn't feature the H-back... so naturally we're not going to have the H-back this year since this is Saunders' offense.

Let's not kid ourselves, the offense is going to be Saunders' show to run.

[GTripp0012]

Thanks JWsleep, great read. People who remember the 2004 draft remember that Wilson went a round before Cooley.

And we know how that turned out.