Offensive Solution: Run from Shotgun?

Ok, we all know we need to have valid run and pass attacks so we can balance the run and pass and keep defenses off balance.

We debate whether the problem is the QB, the WRs, the Oline or being only one year in a system or the hybrid midwest system.

We also know that we need more time for plays to develop, that winning teams use the shotgun and that Jason likes the shotgun.

So I think the solution is very simple. If Zorn can draw up a series of plays where Portis can run from the Shotgun then we can use the shotgun, have the extra time, keep the D guessing and give a year for the young WRs to step up or step out, begin to get an oline with better pass protection - a west coast oline) and give another year to learn the system and execute a bit faster.

What do you guys think about us learning to run from the shotgun? Who does that successfully now? What do think the offensive solution is over the next 2 years?

We did run from the shotgun. Remember the first game against Philly to seal the game on 4th down?

http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29596/PHI_Gamebook.pdf

4-1-PHI 38 (2:48) (Shotgun) C.Portis up the middle to PHI 35 for 3 yards (M.Patterson).

I'm not a big fan of it as it gives too much time for the defense to close the gaps. It's okay once in a blue moon but not as a staple of our offense.
Our problem hasn't been in the running game, it's been in the passing game. Even when we have used the shotgun in passing situations, JC still can't seem to find the open receiver down field and still takes forever in his delivery.
I think that we need to shore up our O-line and hope that JC learns how to play QB in his 4th year in the NFL.

I'm not a big fan of it as it gives too much time for the defense to close the gaps. It's okay once in a blue moon but not as a staple of our offense.
Our problem hasn't been in the running game, it's been in the passing game. Even when we have used the shotgun in passing situations, JC still can't seem to find the open receiver down field and still takes forever in his delivery.
I think that we need to shore up our O-line and hope that JC learns how to play QB in his 4th year in the NFL.
Well put, I agree. The running game is fine, the oline is unable to block sufficiently for JC, (who doesn't get the ball out very quickly), for the passing game. Especially down the stretch where our older lineman started wearing down.

We need new blood in the OL. We did run some from the shotgun, sometimes.
We need to improve our pass protection and see if Jason Campbell is the franchise QB this season.

i personally would love to see more shotgun,seems to me that most of the more successful teams use it a lot more than us

Htown is right we struggle from "under center" mainly because JC has a slow release. But our O line was bad in pass coverage last season, we need to address that asap!!! Keep Samuels, Rabach, Heyer,the others need to be cut.

The only time we really had trouble running the ball was against team who had a good that stopped just about all teams from running on them. What we did not do was to figure out how to design quick plays to avoid the rush. Take the Cards for exaimple. They don't have a great line but Warner is able to read the D and hit a WR on a quick rout away from the rush whish we failed to do most of the year. If we can do that then it keep the D on their heals some and opens up the run.

What do you guys think about us learning to run from the shotgun? Who does that successfully now? What do think the offensive solution is over the next 2 years?


I agree. I wish we used the shotgun more often. Zorn doesn't like it that much, but JC seems to be more comfortable and more productive from the shotgun. Zorn said something to the effect that he doesn't use it too much because it disrupts the rhythm of some passing plays and it removes the threat of the run. I would figure that if they focus on shotgun is practice then they could develop that rhythm. Although i think Zorn is a good coach I thought that he removed the threat of the run from the shotgun with his playcalling. If you only run from shotgun a handful of times over the course of a season and usually go to shotgun on 3rd down or 2 minute offense. Then yeah, teams will think you're one dimensional. IMO part of the solution would be to use shotgun more, use the shotgun on 1st and 2nd down not just 3rd down, and run from shotgun more often.

We have run a few times from the shotgun, but i would guess it was only around 5 times during the season. I'm not sure how you would measure success but off the top of my head i recall the Eagles, Patriots and Colts run from shotgun more then we do, actually most teams that use the shotgun run from it more then we do.

I don't think the offensive 'solution' is very complicated. The most obvious answer is time the coaches and players will have another year in the WCO which takes time to master, most experts say it takes 3 years. A major factor is focus in the redzone. I know that everyone hates this but i think its partly lack of execution. Reduce the penalities, false starts, holding and delay of games. Then its scheme/coaching getting the plays in quicker, maintaining or picking up the tempo, being more aggresive in the play-calling, get the ball to Cooley.

I think if we improve on those things the redzone scoring will increase which i thought was the biggest problem with the offense.

Second, a few more explosive plays per game would also help. This would require better protection from the offensive line, more aggresive downfield playcalling and better execution from the QB/Receivers.

We're a running team, the more shotgun we use the less effective we are as a running team. I am not ready to in trust JC to win us games by passing a lot. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind a bit more usage of the shotgun formation but not as a stable of our offense.