How will Saunders affect our running game?

[Schneed10]

I think the main upgrade Saunders brings is in playcalling. I think this hire marks the end of the days where we get a 14 point lead on Tampa Bay and then just get conservative and sit on it. I think he's going to keep attacking. I don't think Gibbs had anyone on his staff this past season that he trusted to make gutsy calls, so he opted to stay conservative instead of attacking. Now Gibbs has someone he really trusts to make the playcalls. I'll bet he turns all playcalling over to Saunders.

As for the running game, I think Saunders will examine the strengths of the line and play to their strengths. With R Thomas back, we'll still see him pulling into space to clear the road for Portis. The big wrinkle I think we'll see is RB screens to Portis, getting Rabach and Thomas out in front of CP. Saunders loved to run those to Priest.

Saunders is an adaptable coach. When Priest was healthy, he would get him on the edge a lot. Then when LJ took over, he was just slamming him right up the middle. I think he'll mix it up. The advantage of our line is athleticism. Our line is not super powerful, we can't just push the DL back by bulldozing straight ahead. Our line is very swift, so we'll probably find ways to get the line into open space in front of Portis.

I think we're talking screens, tosses, and sweeps.

[saden1]

The Saunders hiring sticks out to me as one in which Gibbs needed a second eye looking at defenses and help perfect his offense. You aren't going to see anything radical but you'll quite a number of wrinkles and maybe better spacing for running plays. I also see the hiring as a way to setup the Skins for the future. In all likelihood Gibbs will leave after next season and players will have continuity after he leaves.

[Big C]

remember, KC has had arguably the best o-line as a whole for the last several years. im sure that his playcalling has attributed to some of the running success, but the offensive line they have is much better than we have here. i am very pleasaed with this aquisition though, i just dont know enough about his running calls

[heybigstar]

How much better is KC's O-line?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by heybigstar

How much better is KC's O-line?

Willie Roaf and Will Shields with combined better 21 pro bowls better.

[Dana87]

Originally Posted by 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.

I think you are exactly right, because if your not there wasn't any reason to hire Saunders in the first place. Gibbs didn't fly to KC so fast to hire Saunders to run the same plays we ran last year. Basically Snyder just bought the number 1 offense' playbook and the coach that can help implament a lot of it. I will say this I think the two schemes are already very similar. And we are not scrapping our offense or playbook. We are broadening it.

[Big C]

Originally Posted by saden1

Willie Roaf and Will Shields with combined better 21 pro bowls better.

thats a lot of pro bowls

[That Guy]

roaf is old now but he's probably still the best OL in the league (followed by seattle's super tackle). Shields and waters are both amazing guards (they're both fast and athletic enough to play tackle) too.

[Big C]

their line has excellent chemistry also, with shields, roaf, and wiegman their center all being together for a while