Battle Red Blog: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Race to the BCS: rankings, in-game scores & blogs Bar-right-arrows



Alex Gibbs Is Gonna Make A Big Difference

Someone else did the legwork for me:

"I looked some stuff up and came up with the following observation.  In 1984, Dan Reeves hired an unknown assistant coach named Alex Gibbs.  Gibbs was the O-Line coach to save John Elway.  Gibbs inserted a new blocking scheme called "zone blocking."  The returns were immediately impressive for the new coach.  In Denver's first game of 1984, they ran for 121 yards on 30 carries.  Not great shakes, but Denver beat the Bungles, so all was good.  Game two was against the formidable Shitcago Bear D (that would set records the next year), and they held Denver to 53 yards on 22 carries.  Game three was again pedestrian--26 carries for 136 yards.  But Denver won again.  Finally in games four and five the O-Line got it, and Denver ran for over 200 yards each game.  236 in Game five was telling.  It took awhile, but the zone blocking scheme took hold and Denver rolled to an 11-5 record.

Fast forward to 2004, Atlanta.  Jim Mora Jr. is hired as HC and his first hire is Alex Gibbs.  Gibbs arrives in Atlanta and brings a young assistant named Jeff Jagodzinski.  Gibbs' job is to revive a dormant Falcon team and bring life to its running game to take pressure off prize rookie Mike Vick.

The first game of that season, a mediocre SanFran team held Atlanta to 95 yards on 28 carries. Atlanta won the game and was praised for "sticking to the run."  Atlanta won their second game and ran the ball much better.  By the third game, Atlanta smoked an overmatched Arizona for 194 yards rushing on 30 carries, a 6.5 yard per carry average.  Game four was more of the same, albeit a little less gouging, as Atlanta ran for 165 yards on 40 carries,averaging 4.1 yards per carry.  This is what Alex Gibbs is all about. 4.1 yards per carry yields a first down every time.  Move the chains with the running game in the NFL and you win."

This past season, your Houston Texans ranked 22nd in the league in rushing yards per game (99.1) and 22nd in yards per carry (3.8).  Perhaps I'm going out on a limb here, but I feel confident predicting that those numbers are going to improve dramatically now that Gibbs is in town, regardless of who gets the carries at RB.

0 recs | Comment 2 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

You guys just scored the coach of the offseason
award!!

Alex Gibbs is a mad genius on the offensive line.  He would still be coaching in all of the places that he left except that he burns out from the intense way he goes about his business.

Above and beyond everything about him, he is at root a great coach.  He teaches and his players learn.  That is why offensive lines improve everywhere he goes.  Players can't help but buy what he is selling.

As a huge fan of the Kube, I can't wait for his next year under your guys' banner.  He is a standup guy who will NEVER let your organization down.  He is one in a million and you guys are lucky to have him...

by styg50 on Jan 13, 2008 5:33 PM CST   0 recs

Wow
Really appreciate the recommendation, styg50. I'm pretty certain every Texans Fan is thrilled that Kubiak convinced Gibbs to join his staff. And I, for one, feel the same way about Kubiak that you do.

Thx again.

by knave64 on Jan 13, 2008 7:29 PM CST   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Your home for analysis and rants about all things Houston Texan.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Bob-sanders-081107_small
Ask Stampede Blue
T1_1206_williams_small
Whats Left?
Br-ravens1_small
Ask Baltimore Beatdown: Questions for the Ravens Blogger
Texans-helmet_small
Grades
Dailynorseman_small
Good Game, Folks
Small
Titans Paper Tiger
Locke_small
Most Memorable Texans Games Ever???
Small
PSA: Andre Johnson to be on Jim Rome today
Dailynorseman_small
Ask Gonzo from The Daily Norseman
4-29-05_wallpaper_small
Vikes' DTs Pat & Kevin Williams Expected to Play.

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini


Site Meter