Why the San Fransico 49ers Coaching Staff is There

The 49ers are looking to be different in every aspect of the game of football next season. There’s not a huge changing of player personnel, nor a large number of changes to the starting lineup.

What’s changed most is the coaching staff. Namely offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye in place of Mike Martz, not to mention an unhindered Greg Manusky on the defensive side of the ball.

Most importantly though, is Mike Singletary, head coach.

Mike Singletary was promoted halfway through last season to interim head coach of the San Francisco 49ers after previous HC Mike Nolan led the team to a very sub-par first half season. The changes he had on the team were both numerous and immediate.

Namely though, he enabled the team to play inspired football. He came in and motivated every last one of them to play better than they ever have before, promising punishment for slacking. Singletary wants winners. But why did he keep the job going into the offseason?

The same reason he got it in the first place.

Singletary has a way of getting everyone on the team ready to play. He doesn’t accept anything but passion and winners on his team, and for that he’s keeping his job. He’ll go into next season yelling, snarling and otherwise foaming at the mouth, calling for strong, physical football. Will he get it out of his guys? Well that depends on a couple things.

First thing is new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. The 49ers interviewed several candidates for the job shortly after firing Mike Martz, citing difference of philosophy for the move. Among the candidates, one of the least likely to be hired was none other than Jimmy Raye.

At least from a fan standpoint. There seemed to be more qualified people for the position, but Singletary saw something there. One other thing to note is that he asked the players. He asked the other coaches.

It was almost unanimous that Raye should be the new coordinator for the 49ers. What will he bring for the team? Hopefully a power running attack and some nice stats for tight end Vernon Davis.

Raye is concise, strict and experienced. At this point, its pretty clear all the fans expect from him is a balanced offense with few mistakes.

On the defensive side of the ball we have Greg Manusky, who at times has been called an “up-and-comer” as far as coaching in the NFL has gone. It seems, however, that Mike Nolan set him back a few seasons, which is fine for me at this point. This means that we finally get him unhindered, to run his scheme his way.

The defense will be a true 3-4 next season, Singletary has made some line-up and role changes and Manusky hopes to build on these changes. He’s expected to work closely with Singletary in making the 49ers a hard hitting, physical defense to be feared.

Five Most Effective Plays for Seattle Seahawks in 2008

Many people would say that a 4-12 team did not run very many effective plays, especially when their offense ranked in the bottom of the league.  However, there were several plays that yielded some success for the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

 

 

 

TE seam

 

John Carlson really emerged last season as a threat down the middle, hauling in 55 passes and five touchdowns, a franchise record for tight ends. 

 

Carlson averaged 11.4 yards per reception and really exploited the middle of the field.

 

The most effective formation was a three-WR formation, with Carlson lining up on the strong side.  In this formation, Carlson is matched up on a linebacker as the corner, and possible safety or nickel corner are matched up against the two wide receivers.

 

The result leaves a fleet footed Carlson in a mismatch with an outside linebacker.  Run properly, this play resulted in big yards.  His longest reception came of the season came on this play in Dallas (33 yards).

 

 

 

TE release

 

Carlson also had lots of success on a basic tight end release route across the field.  Carlson would line up on either the left or right side, depending on the direction of the play. 

 

Usually ran in goal-line situations, this play was effective in garnishing one of Carlson’s five touchdowns.

 

In this play, the QB would normally have two backs in the backfield.  At the snap of the ball, Carlson starts by initiating contact with his blocker, then after one or two seconds releases his block.

 

The QB runs a play-action fake to draw up potential linebackers in coverage.  He then proceeds to bootleg to the left or right depending on the play call.

 

If run correctly, Carlson is left uncovered and an easy touch pass should result in a touchdown as demonstrated in the game against Green Bay where Carlson scored his first touchdown.

 

 

 

Halfback Counter

 

This was a very effective play for the Seahawks at the beginning of the season.  The play is run out of a single back, two-tight-end set.  Julius Jones ran this play very effective against the St. Louis Rams in the third game of the season.

 

The play involves the offensive line blocking down in the direction of the initial play.  The running back is handed the ball, stutter steps in the opposite direction of the play and then continues in the direction of the play in attempt to throw off the opposing linebackers.

 

The hopeful result of this is a five-yard or more play.  The play is usually considered to have failed if the running back gains three yards or less.

 

Jones had his best run of the season on this play against the Rams.  Jones started going left only to counter to the right, and then he bounced off two potential tacklers to run this play into the end zone with Matt Hasselbeck leading his way.

 

Jones finished the game with 22 carries for 140 yards and the lone touchdown.

 

 

 

Halfback Dive

 

This was another very effective running play for the Seahawks in 2008 that yielded several touchdowns by T.J. Duckett.  The play is designed to pound away at the defense in order to gain a couple of yards maximum.

 

The Seahawks would crowd the line with eight potential blockers including five linemen and three tight ends.  With the RB lining up behind the QB, the ball would be handed off to the RB quickly in an effort to catch a defense off-guard. 

 

Each lineman has a separate blocking assignment; usually it is the man lining up over their respective area, as most teams attempt to crowd the line. 

 

This play is only effective if the offensive line gets the initial push against the defensive line.  The result is hopefully a first down or a touchdown.

 

T.J. Duckett had a team high-eight rushing touchdowns on only 172 yards rushing.

 

 

 

Wide Receiver Crossing Route

 

This play may be a staple of many previous Seahawks offenses.  The Seahawks are well known for running many crossing routes with their wide outs, and 2008 was no different.

 

This play is usually run out of a three- or four-wide receiver set with two wide receivers to the strong side and one to the weak side.  The slot receiver or inside receiver on the strong side runs up field five or ten yards and begins to drag across the field. 

 

The weak side receiver runs seven or more yards up field and runs in the opposite direction of the “crossing” wide receiver.  The play is only effective if they have run different lengths they avoid running into each other.

 

The play attempts to “pick” off the corner or safety covering one of the receivers with the linebacker.  If the play is run effectively, one of the wide receivers should be open ten or more yards down field. 

 

This play could lead to high-yardage passing plays.

 

With the change in the offensive playbook for the Seahawks this season, these plays may not be seen in 2009.  However, they were the most effective for this offense in 2008.

Don’t Expect the Air Bears, But Cutler-Led Offense Will Be Different

Yippee! Hooray! The Chicago Bears found a quarterback who can throw the football and move in the pocket! And they didn’t have to exume Sid Luckman, either!

OK, what next?

         
Now that offensive coordinator Ron Turner has pinched himself and realizes that the Jay Cutler trade isn’t a dream, he has to put together a game plan that will take full advantage of the new quarterback and his skill set.

Cutler and Turner meet for about two hours almost every day to discuss what may or may not work, but make no mistake about it—the offense is a work in progress and figures to be for awhile.

         
Here’s an early look at what changes may in order for next season:

         
Fewer screens, flares and dump-offs.Cutler would rather take his shots downfield than make the safe play. The gunslinger attitude gets the quarterback into trouble sometimes—he throws into coverage rather frequently—but the trade-off is an inordinate number of big plays in the pass game.

Last season Peyton Hillis led all Broncos backs with a mere 13 receptions. By comparison, Bears feature back Matt Forte had 63 catches. If Forte has that many this season, then it probably means one thing: The offensive line didn’t give the quarterback enough time to throw the ball.

More bootlegs and rollouts. Cutler has good mobility and throws accurately on the run. The combination is ideal for fades, hitches and out patterns on throws from outside the pocket.

Cutler won’t hesitate to pull the ball down and run with it, either. His 57 attempts were second among quarterbacks last season, although Turner is sure to  remind him to pick his spots carefully.

More deep passes. Last season Cutler completed 55 passes of 20-or-more yards, 21 more than his predecessor Kyle Orton and second most in the league.

If you got a gun, then shoot it, right? The question is, who will take the bullet at the other end?

         
The Bears have a shortage of established long-ball threats, but they do have Devin Hester, the human blur. As a pass receiver, Hester is as green as the Lake Forest practice fields. He also had pure speed that can be deadly on straight-line patterns. Expect Cutler and Hester to get acquainted early and often this season.

         
More play-action passes. Don’t expect these to become the Air Bears all of a sudden. Cutler may not throw the ball much more than Orton did a year ago, when the offense ranked 14th in the category in the league.

The difference is, at least in theory, the improved pass game will make the run game better and vice versa. If the offense establishes a consistent ground attack, which will be its top priority as usual, then play-action will become a more effective option.

NFL Legends: Dick Butkus

NFL Legends is back! After a long hiatus, I’m finally inducted one of the NFL’s most legendary figures into the NFL Legends Hall of Fame.

After my good friend, Angel Navedo, left a post on my board saying that I needed to get back in the game, I turned off the TV, iPOD, and any other miscellaneous distractions and decided to finish an article I had started long ago.

Now, unplug your phones, turn off those cells, and refrain from any other activities while Professor Williamson tells you the story of Dick Butkus.

 

 

The Chicago Bears are not just one of the oldest teams, but they are also the team with the most players in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Many of those members are definitely in the top 10 of their positions.

 

However, the purpose of this tribute to the Chicago Bears was to find out who was the best. The absolute best, not just one of the best. The answer came to me when I was talking to my father.

 

My father was born in Chicago, and he instilled in this Texan, a love for all Chicago teams. I asked him about linebackers one day, and if I remember correctly, the question was: “Who was the best middle linebacker ever?”

 

He said, “Butkus.”

 

“Bupkis?” I asked.

 

“No. Butkus. Dick Butkus.”

 

I was stunned at how fast he said it. Usually my father always debates in his mind about these kinds of things. Yet, he said this in less than ten seconds.

 

For my father to be that certain about such a question, I knew Dick Butkus had to be special.

 

I decided to see if I could find any highlights of him on the web. After I watched a clip of him in action, I became—for the first time—frightened of a player.

 

I had seen Jack Lambert without his teeth. I had seen Deacon Jones’s head slapping people. I had seen Lawrence Taylor threaten to kick a quarterback’s “f—— a–!!!”

 

His words, not mine. 

 

But I was never afraid of them. At least not in the way I was of Butkus. There was something about him in that dark blue uniform with the No. 51 on it.

 

Center, Bill Curry, of the Packers and Colts said, “Before you could begin to try to block on Dick, you had to overcome the mystique. And uh, he didn’t appreciate this, but I said it was almost like an odor. He exuded a kind of a presence.”

 

Why do I feel like I’m in a horror movie all of a sudden?

 

That No. 51 scared me more than all my exes and a Doberman Pincher combined. Jack Lambert was a kitten compared to this guy.

 

What am I saying?

 

No, the whole Steel Curtain was a basketful of mewing kittens compared to this guy!

 

Dick Butkus is, without a doubt in my mind, the greatest middle linebacker to ever play the game of football.

 

I listened to these interviews of NFL alumni and they all had something great to say about Dick Butkus.

 

In his nine-year career he only played on two winning teams. A lot of people give up and only do a so-so job, but Butkus never gave up. No matter how bad the team’s record was, he never lowered his standards.

 

Running back and former NFL Head Coach Dan Reeves said, “He tried to hurt you. You know, he was just so competitive, you know, not only did he not want you to gain a yard, he didn’t want you to gain an inch. You know, as soon as you had that football, you were the enemy.”

 

NFL coaches love players like that, because they know they can count on them no matter what the situation is.

 

He also could intimidate you as well. Not only did he have that “mystique” Curry mentioned, he also grunted and growled.

 

Head Coach Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys remembered one particular game against Butkus. “We had a rookie center, uh, that was playing against him for the first time. And of course you remember Butkus grunted a lot, growled a lot, when he was backing up the line.

 

“We sent this rookie center in to play for us. And the first time he came off, his eyes were about like this (makes very big circles with his hands), and he couldn’t believe what he was hearing from Butkus. Butkus had him intimidated and he hadn’t even blocked him yet.”

 

Grunting and growling, hmmmm…that sounds like a bear all right.

 

Deacon Jones would agree, “He was an animal. And he was a well-conditioned animal. And every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”

 

Green Bay running back Paul Hornung: “Dick didn’t just tackle you. He made just textbook tackles, but he didn’t just tackle you. He engulfed you.”

 

Dick Butkus came into the NFL as the third overall pick of the 1965 draft. He was the best linebacker out of Illinois and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1963. He finished third the following year.

 

It was a given that George Halas, owner of the Bears, was going to draft Butkus. Both were from the same school, first generation Americans, and both were natives of Chicago.

 

Yet, I don’t think that even Halas knew what Butkus would become after he drafted him.

 

Butkus was also drafted one pick before his fellow Hall of Famer, Gale Sayers. The back to back rookies became legends in Chicago. And while neither one ever won a Super Bowl ring, they are better than a lot of those who do have them.

 

Dick Butkus played only nine seasons, due to knee injuries. He was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times, All-Pro eight times, and his statistics are amazing.

 

He recorded 1020 tackles, 22 interceptions, 27 fumble recoveries, and if sacks were counted then, he’d have a ton of those, too.

 

This man was a beast on the field. He did all that in nine seasons, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.

 

Despite all of the praise, it meant nothing to him.

 

His roommate Ed O’Bradovich gave a lot of insight into Butkus’s personality and ability. Not only was Butkus big, he was also fast.

 

“For Dick to run a 100 dash, it would take him three days. But I wanna tell you something,” continued O’Bradovich. “From that middle linebacker, 20 yards this way, 20 yards that way, and 20 yards that way, I mean nobody, nobody was quicker than he was.”

 

Okay. Imagine a fast, ravaging, animal-like, being chasing you. Has anyone started crying? Because I have.

 

O’Bradovich also said, “His whole damn life was football. Forget about it. It wasn’t driving a pretty car, it wasn’t going to the local bar, pounding your chest and say, ‘I’m the greatest,’ it was the opposite.”

 

What makes Butkus great is that he did it all without help. The Bears only posted two winning seasons with him, and that takes its toll on morale. When morale is low, you are going to decrease in results—maybe not put everything in that game.

 

Butkus was the opposite.

 

It was almost like the worse it got, the more ferocious and vicious he got. According to Ray Mansfield, a Pittsburgh center, Butkus knocked out L.C. Greenwood on a punt.

 

L.C. Greenwood was one of the best defensive linemen in the 1970s and a member of the Steel Curtain.

 

You have tackles, but with Butkus, there was no such thing.

 

Dan Abramowicz said, “Dick was not satisfied with just an ordinary tackle. He had to hit you, pick you up, drive you, and grind you into the ground.”

 

Ok. If I was a halfback, the Bears would be getting a safety after I run all the way back to my own end zone and out of the stadium to get away from this lunatic!

 

Doug Buffone, Butkus’s fellow linebacker and Chicago Bears radio analyst, remembered a time where the Bears were playing the Lions. There were 10 seconds left and Butkus called a timeout.

 

Now everybody is thinking, ‘Huh?’

 

As it turns out, Butkus called the timeout so he could get another chance to run full force and hit somebody.

 

When we think of NFL rivalries, what rivalries come immediately to mind?

 

The Redskins vs. the Cowboys, the Patriots vs. the Colts, and the Bears vs. the Packers are the most known.

 

But Butkus had his own rivalry.

 

He didn’t like the Packers, but he hated the Detroit Lions. Every time they played each other, Butkus unleashed pain, terror, and made it his personal job to beat the living daylights out of them.

 

Forget the tigers, Dorothy; you got Lions and Bears to worry about at those games.

 

Doug Buffone and Ed O’Bradovich recalled a time that should be Butkus’s defining moment as a player and a teammate.

 

“(Lions Tight End) Charlie Sanders tried to make a necklace out of my teeth,” said Buffone. “I mean he just hit me so hard, cracked me all the way across there (makes a motion with his finger tracing his top front teeth).

 

“I’m back in the huddle, I’m bleeding like a pig and Dick looks at me, ‘What happened?!’ I said, ‘What do you think happened?’”

 

“Then a few plays later,” added O’Bradovich, “Charlie Sanders went over the middle; Dick had him and caught him right in the chest, right in the head, and leveled him.”

 

Charlie Sanders also remembers it very well. “The hit was so hard that I actually didn’t feel it… I think he hit me so hard it actually numbed me.”

 

Butkus’s knee injuries kept him from doing what he loved.

 

He filed a lawsuit against the Bears because he believed they kept him on the field knowing he was injured, but didn’t want one of their main attractions missing from the field.

 

The Bears also would not let him, or other players, get a second opinion from a doctor outside the Bears organization.

 

This monster on the field had his heart broken when he was told he couldn’t play football.

 

Butkus settled for $600,000 and his relationship with the Bears, namely George Halas, was injured.

 

Despite his tragic retirement, he has been quite happy after his football life. He did some broadcasting, acting, advertising, worked in the XFL, and is still revered by all those who know his name.

 

The Butkus award was named in his honor and is given to the best collegiate linebacker. In 2008, the award was expanded to the high school and professional levels to help end steroid abuse by athletes.

 

I’m proud to say the first NFL winner of the Butkus award is my current favorite player, DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys.

 

To have that kind of award named after you, you have to be the best. No question about it.

 

I don’t think Butkus is the best middle linebacker, I know he is.

 

Ray Lewis can’t touch Butkus. Jack Lambert can’t touch Butkus. Willie Lanier can’t touch Butkus. Chuck Bednarik can’t touch Butkus.

 

No one can and no one ever will.

 

We shall conclude with the words of another one of the NFL’s most feared men of all time.

 

Deacon Jones: “Well the only thing I can say about the great Dick Butkus—I’ll say it in a poem. Roses are red and violets are blue, if you got any sense, you’ll keep Butkus away from you.”

Despite Exits, Arizona Cards Coaching Staff Looking Strong for 2009

When a NFL franchise has a great season, players leaving for “greener pastures” has become a part of the game. Less mentioned, but just as vital, is the loss of coaches, who take jobs that include more control, more familiar personnel and prestige.

After their Super Bowl run in 2008, the Arizona Cardinals lost some coveted coaches to the Kansas City Chiefs, who named Cards’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley their new head man. Haley brought some of his colleagues with him, naming Clancy Pendergast defensive coordinator, the Redbirds’ DC for the past five seasons.

Haley also made former Arizona offensive quality control coach Dedric Ward his wide receivers coach for the Chiefs.

“The thing I feel the best about is there won’t be any changes in philosophy or terminology on both sides of the ball,” Coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “That’s a big thing, and something you worry about. You don’t want that disruption or uncertainty for our players.”

Whisenhunt, who made a name for himself as an offensive coordinator during a Super Bowl run with the Pittsburgh Steelers, went a different route in restocking his coaching ranks. First, he named linebackers coach Bill Davis, a former DC in San Francisco, the new head of the defense.

Davis was a defensive assistant for several NFL teams, including Whisenhunt’s Pittsburgh mentor, Bill Cowher.

Whisenhunt will take over Haley’s play-calling responsibility on offense and promoted receivers coach Mike Miller to passing game coordinator and offensive line coach Russ Grimm to lead the running game. Miller and Grimm will handle their respective areas of the offense during the week, while Whisenhunt will direct the offense on gameday.

“I am a big believer in developing coaches and that is the process we will go through again,” Whisenhunt said. “Hopefully we will have the same success.”

Grimm, who came to Arizona with Whisenhunt from Pittsburgh, was a member of the legendary Washington Redskins’ “Hogs” line and has been instrumental in getting the Cards’ offensive line to gel this past year and developing younger players.

Whisenhunt and Grimm have had such a great rapport, Whisenhunt made Grimm his assistant head coach when they came to the desert and relies heavily on his advice on gameday and throughout the week.

With such a strong relationship with those around him, handing coaches new responsibilities has become second nature for Whisenhunt. With the luck he has had in his short time in Arizona, “Whiz” now has full control over his team and “his guys” on his coaching staff.

Eagles Waive K Sam Swank

The Dallas Cowboys’ Should-Be Motto for 2009: Just Run the Ball!

Months after watching another season slip through their fingertips, the Dallas Cowboys are trying to re-group for the upcoming year in football—this time hoping for a longer season and a happier ending.

Another 9-7 season that results in sitting at home come playoff time will not cut it for the Cowboys next year. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if the 2009 season replicates the 2008 disaster, we will be seeing quite a few new faces in Valley Ranch come 2010.

But while next season’s results will be expected to far exceed those of last year, one thing is worth mentioning about the makeup of this current Cowboys team.

On paper, not much has changed.

Sure, they have added a new rookie class, but no matter what the experts said on draft day, we really do not know what to expect from them.

Whether Jason Williams and Vincent Butler work out for the Cowboys or whether they disappoint, they will still be—at best—backups to DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer next year, and if Stephen McGee even hits the field, the season is already over.

Igor Olshansky and Keith Brooking were both nice additions, but they were also both brought in to fill holes that were left vacant by players from the 2008 roster who were on the way out.

Olshansky will be filling in for Chris Canty while Brooking will do the same for Zach Thomas. Another noticeable addition, Gerald Sensebaugh, will try to shore up the safety position that has been vacated by once sensational, but now unwatchable, safety Roy Williams.

I am certainly not trying to say that some of the new guys cannot or will not contribute next year, and I also would not be naive enough to suggest that the Cowboys might not miss some of the players who have moved on to other teams. 

However, of all the additions and subtractions the Cowboys have made this offseason, only one is truly significant in regards to next year.

If you have read this far, and if you have been paying any attention at all this offseason, then you should probably already know who I am talking about.

Terrell Owens.

Love him or hate him, Owens was a huge part of the Cowboys’ offense—many will argue too huge. The Cowboys can elect to keep trying to run the same offense that they ran with him, in which case they will sorely miss him.

Or rather, the Cowboys can elect to make an adjustment in their offensive philosophy that could actually turn the absence of Owens into a positive thing.

I have been saying it for months, I’m saying it now, and I am sure I will say it again. If the Cowboys want to turn their offense around next year, they are going to have to make it a point to run the football.

Until Roy Williams and the other receivers can step their game up and prove that they are a legitimate receiving corps that can put up big numbers and make big plays, the Cowboys offense needs to play to their already proven strength—running the football.

The Cowboys have a luxury that few teams have. They have three solid running backs in Marion Barber (885 yards in 2008 despite injury), Felix Jones (8.9 yards-per-carry), and Tashard Choice (5.1 ypc).

With two of those backs being rookies last year, it is quite possible that the Cowboys coaching staff did not quite know what they had in their stable coming into the season. However, by season’s end, there was absolutely no question that the overall talent in the Cowboys’ backfield, when healthy, can rival any team in the league.

Unfortunately, there was never a point during the 2008 season when all three running backs were being used at the same time due to injuries sustained by Jones and Barber at different points in the season.

With the knowledge of what they have got now firmly in place, and with all three running backs entering into next season at full strength, the Cowboys could and should “hit the ground running” come September.

Cincinnatti Bengals Coaching Staff Key to Bounce Back Year

The Cincinnati Bengals have a group of coaches who have experience working with each other and the organization.  Of the 16 assistant coaches on the staff, only two are beginning their second season with the team and more than half the staff has been there as long as coach Marvin Lewis.

This coaching staff witnessed a terrible 2008 season on offense and an encouraging season on defense.  The three following coaches will have the largest impact on the 2009 Bengals and their journey to a bounce back year. 

Lewis took over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003 and is now the third longest tenured coach in Bengals history.  Lewis is a defense-first coach but his team has never made that their public persona. 

Lewis has only made the playoffs once, in 2005 losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, and has a career record at 46-50-1. 

In 2008, the Bengals were awful but there was a bright spot on defense.  That unit ranked 12^th in the NFL in yards per game and could be better than that in ’09.  Lewis’ leadership on the defensive side of the ball could vault a Bengals squad known for lack of defense to a top-ten team. 

Lewis began his coaching career at his alma mater, Idaho State where he was the linebackers coach from 1981-84.  He spent that decade bouncing around the college ranks until he landed a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992.   

After the Steelers, Lewis became the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator in 1996 and held that position through the 2001 season.  His defense set the record for points allowed in 2000 while leading them to a Super Bowl victory.

He spent the 2002 season as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, who ranked fifth in defense that season, before accepting the head coaching job with the Bengals in 2003. 

Lewis is considered a great defensive coach and if the Bengals want to rebound from a terrible 2008 season, they will need that reputation to come true.

Continuing with the defensive theme, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer enters his second season with the Bengals and his ninth season as a NFL defensive coordinator. 

Zimmer’s defense was much improved last season and is on the verge of being a top-ten unit with the additions they have made in the off season.  Zimmer spent six seasons as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and coached safety Roy Williams from 2002-06 who was a key free agent pick-up made by Cincinnati in May. 

Zimmer can build on youth with second-year linebacker Keith Rivers and the drafting of linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive end Michael Johnson. 

Zimmer joined the Cowboys in 1994 and during that time he coached eight players to a combined 23 pro bowl selections. 

He will take his experience coaching the 4-3 defense and apply his accomplished skills to teaching the young linebackers, Maualuga and Rivers, and resurrect the career of Williams.  Zimmer is the key to the Bengals defense taking the next step to being a game-changing defense.

On the offensive side of the ball, Paul Alexander is the longest tenured coach on Marvin Lewis’ staff.  He has been the offensive line coach for the last 15 seasons and was named assistant head coach the year that Lewis was hired in 2003. 

Alexander’s offensive line has had great success while he’s been running the show.  They have produced a record-setting game when Corey Dillon rushed for 278-yards in 2000 and have twice set the record for sacks allowed in a season.   

In 2005, the line set the the record allowing 21 sacks but then broke their own mark in 2007 with just 17 sacks allowed. 

Carson Palmer has been the benefactor from the strong line play.  He was the NFL’s fifth-fastest quarterback to reach the 100-touchdown mark and he holds the Bengals franchise record for passing yards in a season and completions.  None of these milestones could be reached without a great offensive line.

Even though last season was a disappointment and veteran left tackle, Levi Jones, was released this off season; Alexander inherited Andre Smith as the teams first round pick in last April’s draft. 

Smith is expected to anchor the left side of the o-line for years to come and protect Palmer’s blindside as well.  Luckily for Smith, there may not be a better coach for him than Alexander.

With Marvin Lewis adjusting his off season approach to gathering talented players on defense his leadership as a defensive-first coach will reign supreme.  Coupled with the talents of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and the Bengals defense is ready to emerge. 

On offense the line will be able to regain its previous form and protect Carson Palmer.  Palmer will have time to throw and utilize the speed of Laveranues Coles to create the deep threat, expand the defense, and open up running lanes in the second half for Cedric Benson to close games out.  

Brad Childress and Staff Bring Coaching Experience to 2009 Vikings

If ever there were a time to get a job with the Minnesota Vikings, 2006 was that time.

Although head coach Brad Childress did make a few minor adjustments this year, the core of his group had been with him since he took over the team after the departure of Mike Tice.

Childress himself has had a long and storied football career playing at Illinois and Eastern Illinois, coaching on the college level for 20 years from 1978-1998.

He did spend one season, though, as a quarterbacks coach with the Indianapolis Colts in 1985.

He spent time coaching at Illinois, Northern Arizona, Utah, and Wisconsin, before joining the Philadelphia Eagles staff in 1999, and helped lead his team to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Childress was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia for four seasons before taking the head role in Minnesota.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell played college football briefly at Northern Arizona where he played under Childress, before taking some time off to do missionary work.

When he returned, he again played for Childress at the University of Wisconsin, and then began his coaching career in 1996 at Westmar.

He spent a season with Iowa State, and two with Connecticut, before joining the Green Bay Packers from 2000-2005.

Bevell joined Childress again when he made his move to the Vikings in 2006.

Special teams coordinator Brian Murphy played at Lehigh from 1988-1991, before spending much of the next seven seasons coaching at Benedictine, Wisconsin, Baylor, San Diego, and Lehigh.

Murphy would return to Wisconsin from 2002-2005, before joining Childress in 2006.

Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar played at LSU from 1986-1989, before breaking into the NFL as a defensive lineman with Pittsburgh in 1990.

Dunbar then spent parts of the next five seasons with New Orleans and Arizona, before signing on as a coach for Nicholls State in 1998. He would also spend time at LSU and Oklahoma state before coaching for the Chicago Bears in 2004.

Like the others, he joined the staff in 2006.

Seahawks Top Five Plays From 2008

In a 4-12 season it is a difficult task plucking some highlights, the record earned shows you did not do a lot of things well. For the first time in five years the Seahawks missed the postseason. With a great off-season they look to reclaim that perch atop the NFC West once again.

There were some bright spots in 2008, like rookie TE John Carlson leading the team in receptions, hauling in 55 catches for 627 yards and 5 TD’s. Or RB TJ Duckett pounding in eight TD’s and converting 15/18 short yardage attempts.

Here is a look at the Seahawks top five plays from 2008.

 

The I Formation Tight End Fade

S/E,WR      LT LG C RG RT TE       F,WR

                           QB

                           FB

                           RB

 

In this play the TE will run about 10 yards in a semi-straight line and will begin to fade to the right side of the field.

As he is fading to the right side of the field the WR on his side runs an inside slant route to lead the CB, and potentially the S away from the TE.

The weak-side WR will run a deep slant route into the middle of the field to draw the S to the middle of the field.

The FB stays in to block, and the RB will run a dump pattern to the strong side giving the QB an option to throw to as a last resort.

 

End Result

If the play works as it is drawn up the TE should be open about 20 yards down the field. If the S follows the WR’s it could be a huge gain.

 

The Duckett Dive

S/E,WR    LT LG C RG RT TE      F,WR

                          QB

                          FB

                          RB

 

One of the few bright spots last season was Duckett’s 85 percent conversion rate on short yardage gains of two yards or less. With the Seahawks generally favoring the left side the play would be run between the C and LG. Naturally it could go to the other side, just simply flip everything around.

With the FB leading the way all that is happening here is the RB powering his way to the first down marker.

 

End Result

Hopefully, a first down, a bigger gain is more then welcome.

 

The Three WR I Formation TE In Route

 

S/E,WR     S,WR     LT LG C RG RT TE     F,WR

                                     QB

                                     RB

 

In this play the TE runs a quick seven/eight-yard in route.

The Flanker complements this with a deeper post route to open up the TE underneath.

On the opposite side the Slot WR will run a ten-yard slant pattern to draw the S away from the TE.  The running back stays in for blocking and has an option route coming out of the backfield to attempt to draw a LB out.

The Split End will run a drag route contrasting the TE and hopefully leaving the left side of the field open for the TE.

 

End result

The TE should find gap in coverage on the left side of the field. Typically there is going to be a LB there unless the RB can completely draw him away, but their will be some space to fit the ball into. This is a typical short yardage dink and dunk pattern that is commonly used in the West Coast offense. If the RB can do a god job of drawing the LB away from the play, this can turn into a 20+ yard gain.

 

The I Formation Four WR Deep Post

 

S/E,WR     S,WR       LT LG C RG RT        S,WR     F,WR

                                        QB

                                        RB

 

In this play the Flanker will run a deep post pattern to the right side, and the slot WR to his side will run a streak pattern.

On the other side the Split End will run an option route where he can run about 15 yards, and cut in, or he can fake a cut in, and slant outside. The slot WR on that side runs a drag route to the right giving the QB an underneath option. The running back stays in to block.

 

End Result

This is a great play to keep a defense honest from defending all of the short dink and dunk patterns. The primary targets are the two outside WR’s, if the Split End can make a good move on the CB and can separate himself he can potentially go all the way.

If the Flanker can make a good cut and stay on the inside of the CB he can gash a defense with a 20-yard gain.

 

The Strong-side Stretch Run

 

WR    WR    LT LG C RG RT TE   

                            QB

                            FB

                            RB

 

This play can be run to either side, just simply switch everything around.

Although the Seahawks were not employing the Zone Blocking Scheme full time in 2008 this is a play where they have employed the Zone before. Depending on how the defense is aligned the OL is going to double team the opposing DL.

 

Example: TE-RT double the DE

              RG-C double the DT

 

With the DL doubled, the RB is going to run about 75 percent speed as the play develops. Depending on which hole develops, he follows the lead-blocking FB into the hole. If the LB’s swarm to any given hole, the RB can simply cut back and shoot straight up the field for a nice chunk of yardage.

 

End Result

An effective run play that typically does not yield a loss unless the OL completely blows their blocking assignments. These type of four, five yard gains open up an offense for the deep play action pass.

 

With a new Offensive Coordinator look for some of the Seahawks most effective plays to change in the upcoming season. Although Knapp does run a West Coast offense it is not going to be the same, conservative, Bill Walsh-Esche Scheme that Mike Holmgren ran.

Look for some more deep pass plays, and a lot more running from the 2009 Seattle Seahawks. I know that Seahawks fans have been waiting for this team to take multiple shots deep down the field during any given game.

With their deep unit of WR’s, and the presence of rookie WR Deon Butler who possesses some game-changing speed (4.28 pre draft 40 time, 4.38 Combine time) they could definitely gouge defenses with the long ball.

Hopefully in 2009 a new group of effective plays will lead the Seahawks to the NFC West title.

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