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Bernie Miklasz
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1jgIo8EQz
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/f3/ef310690-4061-11e1-a781-001a4bcf6878/4f1454e754d89.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]There's been mixed reaction to head coach Jeff Fisher's presumptive choice of Brian Schottenheimer as the new offensive coordinator (although Fisher told the Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas on Sunday night that nothing is official yet). Schottenheimer was run off by the NY Jets at the end of the season, conveniently scapegoated for the team's disappointing 8-8 finish.
If Schottenheimer is the choice, it's an interesting hire. Schottenheimer obviously took the hit for the failure of Mark Sanchez to develop into an elite QB. But that point of view assumes that Sanchez has what it takes to be great. And at the end of the season, the Sanchez rep was soiled by (anonymous) claims that he's lazy, can't lead, etc.
Believing that Sanchez was ready for an expanded role, the Jets made a choice to open up the passing game in 2011. And if you buy what the NY papers are selling, the shift in philosophy was an unmitigated disaster.
Well now ... I'm not sure about that.
The Jets averaged 23 points per game this season, ranking 13th among 32 teams. In 2010 they averaged 23 points per game, which ranked 13th. No difference. The Sanchez passer rating actually improved this season. He had a a rating of 63.6 as a rookie, 75.3 in 2010, and 78.2 this season. Sanchez also passed for a career-high 26 TDs. (His INT rate also went up.)
And the Jets were fabulous in the red zone, ranking first in the NFL in converting chances into touchdowns, scoring 36 TDs in 55 opportunities for a success rate of 65.5. The Rams have been horrific in the RZ, so this is encouraging. Other faults aside, Sanchez got it done in the red zone this season, throwing 21 TDs with 3 INTs. Of course, Sanchez also had a more impressive collection of receiving options, which helped him compared to, say, a Rams QB.
And if we are to blame Schottenheimer for the stalled development of a young QB, then it's fair to give the OC just a nod of praise for what Sanchez did in the 2009-2010 postseasons. In six games, with the Jets winning four, Sanchez completed 60.5 percent with 9 TDs and 3 INTs. He played very well in road wins at San Diego, Indianapolis and New England. He also played a good game in last season's AFC championship, completing 61 percent for 2 TDs and no picks in the loss at Pittsburgh.
My point is, I just don't think it makes sense or is fair to pin all of the negatives on Schottenheimer simply because the Jets decided that someone had to pay the price for the 8-8 and the NYC shame of getting taken down by the NY Giants late in the season.
Schottenheimer had been the Jets' OC since 2006, and he'd done some good work. Schottenheimer was held in high regard, invited to interview for multiple head-coaching gigs, but declined. He was a rising star. But the Jets backed up in 2011, and HC Rex Ryan wasn't going to fire himself. So the OC was asked to leave. That's football. That's life. On top one day, kicked to the curb the next.
Another likely factor in Schottenheimer's ouster was his decision to stand up to WR Santonio Holmes, who has been tagged as a problem in a locker room that turned sour this season. When Holmes began jogging through pass routes in a brazen display of non-hustle in the final regular-season game at Miami, Schottenheimer pulled him. The Jets can't cut Holmes because of his prohibitive contract, and the OC and the temperamental WR probably couldn't co-exist. So guess who had to go?
What Jets' leadership seem reluctant to acknowledge is the team's lurching rushing attack. Shonn Greene is good, but he hasn't become a game-changer at RB. LaDainian Tomlinson got old. The Jets averaged 4.5 yards per rush in 2009 and 2010 but slumped to a 3.8 average this season. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets collectively had a minus 30 rating in run blocking this season. Not sure why that's the OC's fault. Besides, if the Jets became too pass-crazy, didn't Coach Ryan have the authority to order his OC to change the play-call approach?
Perhaps Schottenheimer and the Jets are guilty of being overly ambitious with Sanchez. Perhaps they wrongly miscalculated and assumed the young QB was ready to take on more responsibility. For whatever reason, Sanchez wasn't ready to graduate to the elite level. But a depressed running game, flat offensive line play, the mistake of overrating Sanchez and a toxic locker room didn't help anyone's cause. Including Schottenheimer's.
No question, if Schottenheimer is offered the Rams' job -- and accepts it -- he will have a lot to prove in St. Louis. He'll be asked to lead the Sam Bradford Project, and the stakes are high. If Schottenheimer turns out to be a boost for Bradford's development, the Rams will move forward in a big way. If it isn't a match, and Bradford stagnates, the franchise will suffer for obvious reasons. And if Bradford -- equipped with additional playmakers, a better line and competent coaching -- regresses again in 2012, then it will raise questions about his ceiling.
If Schottenheimer does in fact come to STL to lead the Bradford Project, this is a hugely important hire, the most important hire of Fisher's start-up.
So what can we expect from Schottenheimer? His roots come from the Don Coryell and Ernie Zampese tree that also produced Mike Martz. I don't have the time or space to bore you with a detailed history of that offensive style, but some components would certainly fit Bradford's skill set. The offense would feature a lot of spread formations, with Bradford firing away from the shoutgun. But the Rams, as currently assembled, don't have the personnel to make that system work.
Here's the deal ... we don't know if the Rams would run a version of the Coryell offense. And the "Coryell Offense" can take on many forms, many personalities. The Washington Redskins won Super Bowls and were a true NFL heavyweight under head coach Joe Gibbs, who used the Coryell foundation. But Gibbs emphasized the H Back and beefed up the offensive line, and the Coryell formations, motions and personnel groupings morphed into a power-running attack led by John Riggins and The Hogs up front.
Don't forget, the Jets were primarily a running team in 2009 and 2010, and rode that ground game (and a tough defense) to a spot in the AFC title game. The Rams are going to install an offense that matches Fisher's core philosophies. And we know he likes to run the football. The Coryell offense can mean a lot of things; don't assume that Bradford would be setting up to pass 50 times a game.
Rather than assume anything, let's see what Schottenheimer and Fisher plan on doing on offense before deciding if it makes sense for the Rams and Bradford.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1jgIo8EQz
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/f3/ef310690-4061-11e1-a781-001a4bcf6878/4f1454e754d89.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]There's been mixed reaction to head coach Jeff Fisher's presumptive choice of Brian Schottenheimer as the new offensive coordinator (although Fisher told the Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas on Sunday night that nothing is official yet). Schottenheimer was run off by the NY Jets at the end of the season, conveniently scapegoated for the team's disappointing 8-8 finish.
If Schottenheimer is the choice, it's an interesting hire. Schottenheimer obviously took the hit for the failure of Mark Sanchez to develop into an elite QB. But that point of view assumes that Sanchez has what it takes to be great. And at the end of the season, the Sanchez rep was soiled by (anonymous) claims that he's lazy, can't lead, etc.
Believing that Sanchez was ready for an expanded role, the Jets made a choice to open up the passing game in 2011. And if you buy what the NY papers are selling, the shift in philosophy was an unmitigated disaster.
Well now ... I'm not sure about that.
The Jets averaged 23 points per game this season, ranking 13th among 32 teams. In 2010 they averaged 23 points per game, which ranked 13th. No difference. The Sanchez passer rating actually improved this season. He had a a rating of 63.6 as a rookie, 75.3 in 2010, and 78.2 this season. Sanchez also passed for a career-high 26 TDs. (His INT rate also went up.)
And the Jets were fabulous in the red zone, ranking first in the NFL in converting chances into touchdowns, scoring 36 TDs in 55 opportunities for a success rate of 65.5. The Rams have been horrific in the RZ, so this is encouraging. Other faults aside, Sanchez got it done in the red zone this season, throwing 21 TDs with 3 INTs. Of course, Sanchez also had a more impressive collection of receiving options, which helped him compared to, say, a Rams QB.
And if we are to blame Schottenheimer for the stalled development of a young QB, then it's fair to give the OC just a nod of praise for what Sanchez did in the 2009-2010 postseasons. In six games, with the Jets winning four, Sanchez completed 60.5 percent with 9 TDs and 3 INTs. He played very well in road wins at San Diego, Indianapolis and New England. He also played a good game in last season's AFC championship, completing 61 percent for 2 TDs and no picks in the loss at Pittsburgh.
My point is, I just don't think it makes sense or is fair to pin all of the negatives on Schottenheimer simply because the Jets decided that someone had to pay the price for the 8-8 and the NYC shame of getting taken down by the NY Giants late in the season.
Schottenheimer had been the Jets' OC since 2006, and he'd done some good work. Schottenheimer was held in high regard, invited to interview for multiple head-coaching gigs, but declined. He was a rising star. But the Jets backed up in 2011, and HC Rex Ryan wasn't going to fire himself. So the OC was asked to leave. That's football. That's life. On top one day, kicked to the curb the next.
Another likely factor in Schottenheimer's ouster was his decision to stand up to WR Santonio Holmes, who has been tagged as a problem in a locker room that turned sour this season. When Holmes began jogging through pass routes in a brazen display of non-hustle in the final regular-season game at Miami, Schottenheimer pulled him. The Jets can't cut Holmes because of his prohibitive contract, and the OC and the temperamental WR probably couldn't co-exist. So guess who had to go?
What Jets' leadership seem reluctant to acknowledge is the team's lurching rushing attack. Shonn Greene is good, but he hasn't become a game-changer at RB. LaDainian Tomlinson got old. The Jets averaged 4.5 yards per rush in 2009 and 2010 but slumped to a 3.8 average this season. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets collectively had a minus 30 rating in run blocking this season. Not sure why that's the OC's fault. Besides, if the Jets became too pass-crazy, didn't Coach Ryan have the authority to order his OC to change the play-call approach?
Perhaps Schottenheimer and the Jets are guilty of being overly ambitious with Sanchez. Perhaps they wrongly miscalculated and assumed the young QB was ready to take on more responsibility. For whatever reason, Sanchez wasn't ready to graduate to the elite level. But a depressed running game, flat offensive line play, the mistake of overrating Sanchez and a toxic locker room didn't help anyone's cause. Including Schottenheimer's.
No question, if Schottenheimer is offered the Rams' job -- and accepts it -- he will have a lot to prove in St. Louis. He'll be asked to lead the Sam Bradford Project, and the stakes are high. If Schottenheimer turns out to be a boost for Bradford's development, the Rams will move forward in a big way. If it isn't a match, and Bradford stagnates, the franchise will suffer for obvious reasons. And if Bradford -- equipped with additional playmakers, a better line and competent coaching -- regresses again in 2012, then it will raise questions about his ceiling.
If Schottenheimer does in fact come to STL to lead the Bradford Project, this is a hugely important hire, the most important hire of Fisher's start-up.
So what can we expect from Schottenheimer? His roots come from the Don Coryell and Ernie Zampese tree that also produced Mike Martz. I don't have the time or space to bore you with a detailed history of that offensive style, but some components would certainly fit Bradford's skill set. The offense would feature a lot of spread formations, with Bradford firing away from the shoutgun. But the Rams, as currently assembled, don't have the personnel to make that system work.
Here's the deal ... we don't know if the Rams would run a version of the Coryell offense. And the "Coryell Offense" can take on many forms, many personalities. The Washington Redskins won Super Bowls and were a true NFL heavyweight under head coach Joe Gibbs, who used the Coryell foundation. But Gibbs emphasized the H Back and beefed up the offensive line, and the Coryell formations, motions and personnel groupings morphed into a power-running attack led by John Riggins and The Hogs up front.
Don't forget, the Jets were primarily a running team in 2009 and 2010, and rode that ground game (and a tough defense) to a spot in the AFC title game. The Rams are going to install an offense that matches Fisher's core philosophies. And we know he likes to run the football. The Coryell offense can mean a lot of things; don't assume that Bradford would be setting up to pass 50 times a game.
Rather than assume anything, let's see what Schottenheimer and Fisher plan on doing on offense before deciding if it makes sense for the Rams and Bradford.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie