Randall Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 New coordinator takes offensive Philbin looks back at good, bad of 2006 By TOM SILVERSTEIN tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com Posted: April 16, 2007 Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin isn't new to the team, just new to the position he holds, so when he conducted a complete review of the 2006 offense he was familiar with everything. What's different is that Philbin now bears the responsibility of finding out what worked and what didn't and, most important, identifying what the offense can do better and how to go about doing it. During the weeks that followed the Packers' 8-8 finish, Philbin and the offensive staff pored over tape of every game. They evaluated the offense systematically, starting with the running game and going on to protection, passing concepts, route running and situational efficiency. Grades were given to players for just about everything they did, but especially for decision-making, so that when they returned for off-season workouts March 19 they could go to work on corrections. "We graded every decision that a running back made on every run he made," said Philbin, the offensive line coach in 2006. "We've got comments: 'Hey, we think you cut it back too early, you didn't press the hole enough,' or 'good decision.' We have every route, every throw the quarterback threw, gave him a plus or minus on the decision he made. "There's a lot of information for the players to digest. They enjoy watching themselves on film more than they do watching somebody else anyway. This was certainly an opportunity for them to do that." Naturally, some of the most comprehensive work was done in the running game, where former offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski installed a lead zone attack last year. The combination of being in the first year of the system and having three rookie offensive linemen start a combined 38 games led to a mediocre showing. The Packers ranked 23rd in rushing and 21st in rushing average, which should never happen in this system. The top two zone-blocking offenses, Denver and Atlanta, ranked eighth and first in rushing, respectively, last season. After examining every run play the Packers called last season, Philbin found three common themes as to why the run game lacked success. "The movement of the defensive end at the point of attack is something that at times we didn't do well enough," Philbin said. "That was No. 1. Then with the backs, especially the two-back attack in the zone game you have to have the right timing, and the spacing between those guys is critical. There has to be a little bit of separation between those two guys." The coaches talked all season long about the backside cut-blocking - away from the direction the run is headed - identifying it as a reason running backs were being dragged down behind the line of scrimmage. But the front-side blocking of the defensive end was something they came to focus on this off-season. Philbin said too often the front side end wasn't driven off the ball or down the line, crowding things for the running back and forcing him to make a premature cut. It becomes a domino effect because the fullback can't get to his man, the halfback doesn't have a cutback lane and the backside defenders, if not cut properly, are there to clean up. "Everything is interrelated," Philbin said. "It's not just one thing, but if that end doesn't get moved, if we get a stalemate or we get pads opened too fast by that tackle, then the back isn't going to get where he needs to go and it's going to impact the spacing between the fullback and halfback. "And the backside cuts become even more critical and the lane just shrinks. It's important to really move that guy." Philbin said sometimes the blame lay with the tackles - Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher and Tony Moll - whose primary role is to move the defensive end, and sometimes it was with the rookie guards - Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz - who are supposed to double-team the end before moving on to block a linebacker. Throughout off-season workouts and training camp, Philbin expects to emphasize that part of the game with his linemen. Another area he wants to work on is the spacing between the halfback and fullback. Too often, the fullback was getting in the way of the halfback, and the ability to make cuts was greatly diminished. Given that mainstays Ahman Green and William Henderson are both gone, it will be up to Vernand Morency and Brandon Miree to develop that chemistry, at least until a draft pick is added to the mix. Philbin said not much would change with the passing game, but there will be some adjustments with protection and there will be an emphasis on reducing the number of dropped passes. The Packers led the NFL with 43, which was part of the reason they completed an unacceptable 56% of their passes. "Overall, we have to catch the ball better, be more precise in fundamentals in terms of our route-running and make sure we're making proper adjustments based on coverages we're seeing," Philbin said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 Thanks Randall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 Solid post, bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 student body left for 2 yards student body right for -1 yard favre in the shotgun, sacked for 8 yards loss punt.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 (edited) student body left for 2 yards student body right for -1 yard favre in the shotgun, sacked for 8 yards loss punt.... That sounds more like a Brad Childress offense. Chester Taylor left for 2 yards Chester Taylor right for -1 yard Tarvaris in the shotgun, sacked for 8 yards loss ....yeah, that's it. Edited April 18, 2007 by Chavez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 (edited) That sounds more like a Brad Childress offense. Chester Taylor left for 2 yards Chester Taylor right for -1 yard Tarvaris in the shotgun, sacked for 8 yards loss ....yeah, that's it. well he did steal there play book Edited April 18, 2007 by Yukon Cornelius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I think he meant to type, Broken down Packer running game... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I think he meant to type, Broken down Packer running game... GB RBs in 06 - 396-1623-8 Min RBs - 393-1648-10 Well, with that MASSIVE statistical disparity, no wonder you Viqueen fans are flapping your gums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Given that mainstays Ahman Green and William Henderson are both gone, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Of course, if they'd stuck around, you'd be talking about the old and decrepit RBs Green Bay was counting on. Both Morency and Herron had 100 yd games and a nice YPC avg last year, and seemed to fit the scheme very well. At the very least, they are more proven than ANY rookie RB coming out this year. Now, I'm not saying that they WILL succeed or that I'm 100% thrilled with the situation, but so far Thompson's moves have been good more often than bad; in Ted I trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 That sounds more like a Brad Childress offense. Chester Taylor left for 2 yards Chester Taylor right for -1 yard Tarvaris in the shotgun, sacked for 8 yards loss ....yeah, that's it. Also sounds like the "pre-Lovie" Bears when Shoop ran the offense. The only difference would be that on 3rd and long, you would see the infamous Shoop draw play - that stellar play calling used to drive me nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broncosn05 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 well he did steal there play book allmost gaught et their yuke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 This thread once again shows the lack of class and intelligence of vikings fans. Nice try though guys... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 18, 2007 Author Share Posted April 18, 2007 Also sounds like the "pre-Lovie" Bears when Shoop ran the offense. The only difference would be that on 3rd and long, you would see the infamous Shoop draw play - that stellar play calling used to drive me nuts Now you are going too far. Even high school's have better offensive game plans than Shoop's(except the Oakland Raiders of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 (except the Oakland Raiders of course). couldn't resist it could you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 This thread once again shows the lack of class and intelligence of vikings fans. Nice try though guys... This post shows the typical lack of a sense of humor in most cheesypoof fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 18, 2007 Author Share Posted April 18, 2007 couldn't resist it could you... A bed and breakfast OC made John Shoop look competent. Fortunately you guys are past that now. If you can get the offense to match that defense in play you can turn things around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 A bed and breakfast OC made John Shoop look competent. Fortunately you guys are past that now. I have to agree -- Shoop's play-calling was so bad, that I actually WANTED the Bears' offense to get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 This thread once again shows the lack of class and intelligence of vikings fans. Nice try though guys... Pot, meet Kettle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 18, 2007 Author Share Posted April 18, 2007 I have to agree -- Shoop's play-calling was so bad, that I actually WANTED the Bears' offense to get better. Man that was painful to watch even for a Packer fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Pot, meet Kettle... I have never treated you or any other Queens fan with anything but respect. Nice sig, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I have never treated you or any other Queens fan with anything but respect. Nice sig, by the way. I was talking about Piratesowngayboys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 I have to agree -- Shoop's play-calling was so bad, that I actually WANTED the Bears' offense to get better. Thankfully he's back in college FB now. I can't believe that he lasted as long as he did in the NFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Pot, meet Kettle... I was talking about Piratesowngayboys Funny, I dont remember really going into Vikings threads and tried to fish... Thats cute though, piratesowngayboys... At least put some effort into an insult. Thanks for trying though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Funny, I dont remember really going into Vikings threads and tried to fish... Thats cute though, piratesowngayboys... At least put some effort into an insult. Thanks for trying though. made you laugh at least... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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