Lonestar
03-26-2010, 11:11 PM
Does Mike Shanahan have O-line envy?
By LINDSAY JONES
ORLANDO — Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan made his return to the NFL’s annual meetings this year, now as the head coach of the Washington Redskins.
He met with reporters for about an hour this morning, talking about various players on his new team, of course. But he also couldn’t help discussing guys from his old team, including a number of current Broncos.
It was clear from that discussion — started by a question about zone blocking — that Shanahan felt very strongly about the group of offensive linemen he left behind in Denver when he was fired after the 2008 season. The starters that year were tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris, guards Chris Kuper and Ben Hamilton and center Casey Wiegmann.
Shanahan said that the best proof he has that zone blocking works is that the Broncos averaged 4.8 rushing yards per carry in 2008, despite an unheard of spate of injuries to the team’s running backs (six ended up on injured reserve).
Among the biggest questions Shanahan faces as he starts his first year in Washington is who will play left tackle, an unfamiliar issue for Shanahan after having the solid Matt Lepsis for years, followed by Ryan Clady in 2008.
“What a get,” Shanahan said of Clady, whom he drafted at No. 12 overall in 2008. “You don’t get much better than Clady. That was like getting the top pick in the draft.”
That line returned in tact for 2009 under new coach Josh McDaniels, but because of injuries and demotions, was reshuffled at times last season. In 2010, Wiegmann and Hamilton are no longer Broncos as McDaniels tries to transform the unit from a zone scheme (which uses smaller linemen) to a more power blocking scheme (which favors larger players).
By all accounts, McDaniels very much likes Clady, Harris (who is recovering from a season-ending toe injury) and Kuper (who on Tuesday signed his one-year tender, ending his restricted free agency). Shanahan is now hoping to find similar players to rebuild the line in Washington, in part through the draft. Shanahan drafted Kuper (who Shanahan said would have been in high demand had he been an unrestricted free agent) in the fifth round in 2006 and Harris (who Shahanan called a future Pro Bowl player) in the third round in 2007.
“You’ve got to find those guys in the draft,” Shanahan said. “Those guys are out there, you’ve just got to make sure you find the right ones.”
http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2010/03/24/does-mike-shanahan-have-o-line-envy/
By LINDSAY JONES
ORLANDO — Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan made his return to the NFL’s annual meetings this year, now as the head coach of the Washington Redskins.
He met with reporters for about an hour this morning, talking about various players on his new team, of course. But he also couldn’t help discussing guys from his old team, including a number of current Broncos.
It was clear from that discussion — started by a question about zone blocking — that Shanahan felt very strongly about the group of offensive linemen he left behind in Denver when he was fired after the 2008 season. The starters that year were tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris, guards Chris Kuper and Ben Hamilton and center Casey Wiegmann.
Shanahan said that the best proof he has that zone blocking works is that the Broncos averaged 4.8 rushing yards per carry in 2008, despite an unheard of spate of injuries to the team’s running backs (six ended up on injured reserve).
Among the biggest questions Shanahan faces as he starts his first year in Washington is who will play left tackle, an unfamiliar issue for Shanahan after having the solid Matt Lepsis for years, followed by Ryan Clady in 2008.
“What a get,” Shanahan said of Clady, whom he drafted at No. 12 overall in 2008. “You don’t get much better than Clady. That was like getting the top pick in the draft.”
That line returned in tact for 2009 under new coach Josh McDaniels, but because of injuries and demotions, was reshuffled at times last season. In 2010, Wiegmann and Hamilton are no longer Broncos as McDaniels tries to transform the unit from a zone scheme (which uses smaller linemen) to a more power blocking scheme (which favors larger players).
By all accounts, McDaniels very much likes Clady, Harris (who is recovering from a season-ending toe injury) and Kuper (who on Tuesday signed his one-year tender, ending his restricted free agency). Shanahan is now hoping to find similar players to rebuild the line in Washington, in part through the draft. Shanahan drafted Kuper (who Shanahan said would have been in high demand had he been an unrestricted free agent) in the fifth round in 2006 and Harris (who Shahanan called a future Pro Bowl player) in the third round in 2007.
“You’ve got to find those guys in the draft,” Shanahan said. “Those guys are out there, you’ve just got to make sure you find the right ones.”
http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2010/03/24/does-mike-shanahan-have-o-line-envy/