Morgan Says He Will Play the Z

[SmootSmack]

And more thoughts from him here

HomerMcFanboy » getting to know joshua morgan

[Bubba305-ST21-]

glad to see him excited and ready to go, just like me. I know it varies on the type of offense but i wonder what the major difference in our offense between the x and z, im guessing garcon (x) will have more vertical routes?

[FRPLG]

Well typically the Z is your deep threat/vertical guy since he has the cushion off the line to avoid jamming and get speed up. But that is somewhat old school thinking. The passing game has become far more complex and less standard in the last decade. Guys like Shanahan have changed a lot conceptually to try and take advantage of mismatches in the secondaries. I still would guess that Garcon, with his speed, will be the stretcher.

I am terribly excited by the small possibility that Moss moves to the slot. I think Moss might be a fantastic slot guy if we end up keeping him.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Bubba305-ST21-

glad to see him excited and ready to go, just like me. I know it varies on the type of offense but i wonder what the major difference in our offense between the x and z, im guessing garcon (x) will have more vertical routes?

In the base offense:

The "X" or split end is on line of scrimmage away form the TE
The "Z" or flanker is off the line of scrimmage (thus gets a 'free' release) same side as the TE

Either the X or Z can be the "feature" WR and run the entire route tree in a given offense

[Bubba305-ST21-]

Originally Posted by 30gut

In the base offense:

The "X" or split end is on line of scrimmage away form the TE
The "Z" or flanker is off the line of scrimmage (thus gets a 'free' release) same side as the TE

Either the X or Z can be the "feature" WR and run the entire route tree in a given offense

yeah i know all that but i was just wondering in our offense particularly if the x or z ran more deep routes which i have to believe garcon (x) will but i know they both run everything

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

So I am guessing Hankerson will start in the slot with Moss spelling him from time to time?

[Bubba305-ST21-]

i guess so too, but i feel like hankerson's body type and skill set isnt really for a slot. A slot is typically smaller and shifty and quick just what moss is.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

So I am guessing Hankerson will start in the slot with Moss spelling him from time to time?

i doubt he plays slot. i think its more likely he just backsup morgan or garcon.

[FRPLG]

I'm guessing we'll just have packages that feature different guys in different ways. I would think Hankerson and Moss are hardly interchangeable strategically.

Best guess is that we now have some flexibility ona week-to-week basis to run custom packages designed to create mismatches. Meaning Hank could move inside mostly one week then outside the next. Probably the same goes for Garcon and Moss. Morgan seems the least versatile to me.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Bubba305-ST21-

i guess so too, but i feel like hankerson's body type and skill set isnt really for a slot. A slot is typically smaller and shifty and quick just what moss is.

Well there are two schools of thought.

Big guy who can operate in the middle of the field and take the pounding versus small guy who is quick and shifty and get open against inferior cover guys like LBs.

Shanahan typically leans toward a small shifty slot guy. See...E. Royal.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Bubba305-ST21-

yeah i know all that but i was just wondering in our offense particularly if the x or z ran more deep routes which i have to believe garcon (x) will but i know they both run everything

Well, Armstrong two years ago played a lot of Z, and all he did was go deep

That said, Mike Shanahan had this to say last year...

On the different responsibilities of the X and Z receivers:

“Sometimes, they are the same. Sometimes, we ask a little bit more out of the X to get downfield a little bit more on more explosive routes. Sometimes, we’ll ask our Z to be a little bit better blocker at the point of attack. We can switch it up. It all depends on what our game plan is and who we’re going against. You have to be able to be a football player first. That’s what we think [Paul] is.”

Bills Toronto Series: The Official Site for the NFL in Toronto

[REDSKINS4ever]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

i doubt he plays slot. i think its more likely he just backsup morgan or garcon.

Since Hankerson has been rehabbing his hip injury, Morgan, Garcon and the other wide outs have gotten the coaches attention. I was under the impression that Hankerson and Garcon would be the two starting wide receivers with Morgan playing in the slot. If Morgan is starting alongside Garcon then that leaves Moss or Hankerson playing in the slot.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

i doubt he plays slot. i think its more likely he just backsup morgan or garcon.

Yeah, probably backs up Morgan I think

[FRPLG]

Good point on the Z being a better blocker since the Z is usually on the strong side which is where runs typically go.

[KI Skins Fan]

I welcome Josh Morgan and wish him the best with the Redskins.

Morgan on RGIII: "I see why they did what they did to get him,” Morgan said. “You’re gonna see this season. I can’t say too much, but I can definitely see why they did what they did and I’m happy with the decision I made to come play with a quarterback of this caliber."

Josh said "I can't say too much...". H-m-m-m-m. Sounds like Shanny may have some creative and exciting plans for using RGIII's rare talents to the greatest effect possible. I certainly hope so.