Shanahan’s Game: Running the Ball the Wrong Way
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by JuTMSY4
Mike Shanahan has coached the Denver Broncos for 12 consecutive seasons. During 11 of those seasons, Shanahan has had a 1,000 yard rusher (the lone exception was an 8-8, 2001 campaign, with a struggling Terrell Davis, who garnered only 701 yards). He’s propelled the likes of Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns and Tatum Bell to the prominence of 1000 yard rushers and parlayed that “talent” into 2 Superbowls (Terrell Davis) and stud corners (Champ Bailey and Dre Bly). I would ask how anyone thinks Shanahan has done this, but most of you probably already know: He’s constructed an athletic offensive line and maintained it for years. The proof is in Shanahan’s pudding, he’s built the line, provided the tools and taught his backs how to use it.
With fantasy drafting now in season, fantasy owners turn to the Broncos for their typical heartbreak, however this year Denver seemingly intends to feature running back Travis Henry, a straight ahead runner with something to prove. Moreover, as a football fan, I am once again reminded of the Denver Broncos’ offensive line, something even my own father has called out numerous times, for the better part of a decade. Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN Page 2 Guest Writer, boils down Denver’s running game in his most recent Tuesday Morning Quarterback segment into two components: “at-the-knees blocking designed to injure opponents and a one-cut rule for running backs.” My dad, on the other hand, has been angrily hating the Denver Broncos for the better part of 20 years for 2 other reasons: John Elway’s shafting of the Indianapolis Colts and Shanahan’s “colorful” blocking schemes. Additionally,the old man used to feel the same way about some of the Steve Young led 49ers teams, who coincidently enough, was coached on the offensive side of the ball by an even less noticeable Shanahan.
What makes Denver’s line so special is a combination of things. Denvers line features Matt Lepsis, Ben Hamilton, Tom Nalen, Chris Kuper and Erik Pears, whith only Kuper and Pears top the 300 pound mark (and not by much, with Pears tipping the scales at 305). More importantly, all Broncos’ lineman can bench well over 300 lbs, except for Erik Pears. Pears’s most recent bench press registered at 225 lbs, however this was a pre-combine, as during the combine Pears had a torn labrum and did not attempt a bench press. Tom Nalen leads the Denver line with a 505 lbs max. Denver’s line weighs just a hair below 1,500 lbs and averages about 296 lbs per lineman, whereas the line can collectively bench 1,865 lbs or an average of 373 (yes, the line can essentially bench itself). The Broncos’ line is, by design, strong, athletic and light.
By comparison, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line, known has one of the heaviest in the league features William Thomas, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, Shawn Andrews, and Jon Runyan, none of which weigh less than 320 lbs and both Thomas and Andrews tipping the scales at 335 lbs, a solid 30 lbs more than the heaviest Denver model. Their total weight is 1,651 lbs for an average of 330 lbs, among the highest in the league. Both teams are considered to have one of the best lines in the league, and both philosophies have produced results.
Of course, the largest reason that the Denver Broncos’ line is so dominant, isn’t necessarly an architecture philosophy, but rather Mike Shanahan’s infamous “Zone Blocking” scheme in combination with an extremely modified and run heavy “West Coast Offense,” a concept originally designed by the San Francisco 49ers’ Head Coach and General Manager, the late Bill Walsh. To truly understand how the technique works and why the Broncos’ employ it, you must first understand “Zone Blocking” and how it compares to the more widely used “Man Blocking” scheme.
Man blocking is essentially exactly what it sounds like. Each offensive lineman is paired with a defender depending on the situation (man to man). However, the assignments and rules of the scheme change depending on the play and the impending defensive front. And it can become especially confusing as defenses adjust and audible depending on the offensive display. As each blocker moves his defender, holes are created and the running back than pushes through (hopefully) a hole, depending on the play, creating a positive yardage gain.
Zone blocking is different in many ways. For one, the blocking assignments and rules do not change as defenses adjust, making the scheme and particular play easier to remember. Zone blocking works in only a few easy steps. Once the ball is snapped, each lineman (typically a group of 3 or 4, including the Tight End) takes a short step in the same direction at a slight and approximate 45 degree angle (lets say right for the example). The next step is then a push forward with his left foot (in this example) and he then proceeds to push, creating room and hogging defenders as he moves forward. The goal of the shift and push is to prevent defenders from crossing the lineman’s body, however defenders do manage to elude lineman in many cases. Should a defender elude the lineman, the lineman then performs a “cut block,” a scheme in which the lineman lowers his shoulder into the defender’s knees, attempting to take his feet out from under him and neutralize the defender. From there, depending on what happens on a particular play, the running back runs in the direction of the linemen’s first step, however, he may adjust depending of the defense’s reaction.
Cut blocking, of course, is truly the most controversial part of the offensive scheme. By nature, a cut block from the side isn’t inherently dangerous (and is perfectly legal), however many teams that employ zone blocking schemes also have a tendency to not always cut from the side (rather from behind), roll up on defenders’ legs, cut block away from the play, and the cut block itself is performed in a dangerous manor. Denver’s scheme performs cut blocks seemingly more often and with more notice than any other team in the league (Houston and Green Bay also use Zone blocking schemes, with much less fanfare).
For an example of cut blocking, take a look at this home video from a game at Hanson Stadium in Chicago on Sept 9, 2006, the team in Green (dark) is St. Patricks High school, the team in white is Joliet Catholic Academy. Note the offensive tackle of the left of the screen (barely visible) swings directly into the defensive tackle’s leg, resulting in a fracture and subsequently ending his season.
Other tactics that teams have accused Denver of employing include “chop blocks” and “leg whips.” A chop block is block in which a lineman engages a defender as another lineman goes low on the defender. The results can be very dangerous and are a finable offense in the NFL (as Tom Nalen was fined last year). The other infamous tactic, the leg whip is much simpler and is not truly legal in the NFL unless more than one player is involved. This tactic was most infamously used by those classic eighties 49ers squads coached by the aforementioned Bill Walsh.
Rick Dennison, Denver’s offensive line coach for Shanahan’s entire tenure was asked via e-mail by a fan on the Broncos’ Team Website: “I don’t see the Broncos blocking any differently than any other team in the league, but it seems every year teams call the Broncos dirty. Is there something the offensive line in Denver does that no other team is doing?” And of course Mr. Dennison’s corporate response was: “No, many teams employ the same schemes that we use. That reputation started years ago and still lingers.”
Since 2001, Denver has been responsible for numerous bumps and bruises for defensive linemen. While linemen on both sides of the ball have similar injury rates among broken bones, tears and ruptures of tendons, the rate of subtle injuries such as contusions and bruises is much more frequent among defenders forced to handle zone blocking schemes featuring cut (and chop) blocking.
October 21, 2001 – Matt Lepsis performed a cut block on former Bronco Maa Tanuvasa, Tanuvasa has not played a regulation NFL down since.
October 28, 2001 – Denver lineman Dan Neil was accused of clipping the back of New England Patriots’ linebacker Bryan Cox and breaking his leg. Neil denied the accusation. Cox played 1 more NFL season (of 11 total) for the New Orleans Saints, registering nine games and 4 tackles
December 1, 2002– Bronco’s guard Steve Herndon blocked San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Jamal Williams from behind, dislocating his ankle. Williams still plays for the Chargers today.
October 24, 2004 – George Foster, Broncos tackle performed a cut block on Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive tackle Tony Williams. A cut block that even JuTMSY4’s favorite whipping boy, Joe Theismann noted was foul. Williams signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 after missing the rest of the 2004 season with Cincinnati. He has not played a regulation NFL down since the injury.
November 19, 2006 – Igor Olshansky, a defensive end for the Chargers was fined $10,000 for punching Broncos’ center Tom Nalen. Olshansky claimed Nalen attempted a cut block him on “a clock-stopping spike play.” Nalen was subsequently fined $25,000 for the play, two and one half times the fine for Olshansky.
Shanahan’s Broncos can run the ball, its something few teams can argue, but is it right? The NFL was already suggested it will watch Shanahan and his Broncos blocking schemes more closely now, but regardless of reputation the actions of these lines have already made themselves clear. Legal or not, cut blocking is a serious threat to NFL players in the trenches.
Citations
Greg Easterbrook – Tuesday Morning Quarterback 8/14/07
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post – “NFL grumbles grow in wake of cut block”
Wikipedia Entry – Igor Olshansky
Statistical Data from Philadelphiaeagles.com, Denverbroncos.com, and ESPN.com
