Linehan gives peek at playbook
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Apr. 02 2006
When he wasn't hiring a staff, pursuing free agents or hitting the road for the
scouting combine, the NFL owners meetings, and various pro days, coach Scott
Linehan has been putting together his offensive playbook.
Rams players will get their first taste of Linehan's offense when they assemble
for a pre-draft minicamp April 21-23. They will discover many similarities in
approach from the Mike Martz system of the past seven seasons. But there will
be many different twists and points of emphasis.
At the NFC coaches breakfast last week in Orlando, Fla., Linehan offered a
fascinating glimpse at that playbook, and his offensive philosophy in general.
Rams football under Linehan will include:
A no-huddle offense for at least parts of most games.
An audible system for Marc Bulger and the Rams quarterbacks.
Fewer seven-step drops on pass plays.
Fewer four-receiver sets.
An expanded role for the tight end in the passing game.
A simplified playbook and game plan.
Martz was known for his encyclopedic playbook in St. Louis, and complex game
plans that could change dramatically from week to week.
"I'm not smart enough to do that," Linehan said. "I've got to keep mine a
little more simple."
In fact, Linehan has told his assistant coaches that if the Rams reach the
Super Bowl, he wants the game plan for that contest to look very similar to the
one the team will use on opening day.
"The more you shoot free throws in basketball, the better you get at it,"
Linehan said. "And the more you run the same play (in football), the better
you're going to get at it. It's going to become more efficient. You're going to
know where to go. You're going to know the problems with it.
"That's the only way I've ever known how to approach it. I think players get
better by running the same things over and over - and that's not being critical
about how they did it (in St. Louis under Martz).
"You cannot deny the success of St. Louis in their glory days offensively. It
was probably one of the most unbelievable things I think any of us have ever
watched as far as an offense. ... But I'm more inclined to say that we're going
to be able to score points and be as productive a different way. Maybe a few
more runs in there. Maybe a few more quick passes. Not as much of the hold the
ball, hold the ball, throw it."
While limiting the number of plays in any one game plan, Linehan will try to
disguise them with different formations, alignments and personnel groupings.
"Talking about Steven (Jackson) and the running game, we're only going to have
three basic runs that we run different ways - hopefully over and over again,"
Linehan said.
So the last thing Linehan wants to do with the Rams' offense is to try to
reinvent the wheel on a weekly basis. Some observers - and privately, some Rams
players - felt that became a Martz shortcoming in his later years in St. Louis.
"Well, in Mike's defense, he's brilliant - probably a genius - as far as
offense," Linehan said. "You can't deny his ability to dissect a defense with
some of those things he did offensively. I think what happens, though, is you
get caught up in doing things and changing, and being innovative and all that.
And sometimes that can be too much for some players."
Make no mistake, Linehan's first Rams playbook has "borrowed" liberally from
Martz's version. Many of the concepts, and play types, are very similar. A lot
of terminology will remain the same. And to some degree, the approach will be
the same.
For example, Linehan is a firm believer in a quick tempo on offense - as was
Martz.
"You'll see us break the huddle fairly quick," Linehan said. "I like the
maximum time at the line; minimum time in the huddle."
But Linehan takes tempo a step further, because unlike Martz, the no-huddle is
a regular feature of Linehan's offense.
"You'll see us do a lot of no-huddle," Linehan said.
As offensive coordinator in Minnesota for three seasons, Linehan said the
Vikings used the no-huddle approach for about two series per game as a change
of pace. Last season in Miami, he used the no-huddle even more over the last
half of the year.
"We won our last six games at Miami, and we opened up probably our last seven
games in no-huddle and did quite a bit of it," Linehan said. "We're not
strictly a no-huddle team. We're not going to be Indy. ... But there's going to
be a time and place for it, and I would think every week it's going to be part
of what we're doing."
Linehan also plans to give Bulger a tool that wasn't available under Martz -
the ability to audible, or change plays, at the line of scrimmage. Under Martz,
Bulger and Rams quarterbacks had only a very limited ability to do this under a
system known as "check-with-me's."
Under his audible system, Linehan will give Bulger more ability to manage the
game based on what he sees at the line of scrimmage.
"He's going to have automatic things he can go to," Linehan said. "If all of a
sudden we're playing a team, and they run a 'Bear' defense, the quarterback's
got to know that this (pass-blocking) protection has too many holes in it
against the 'Bear' defense. He's going to have to know how to get us out of a
bad situation.
"He's going to have much more to do with our run game. That'll be a big change
as far as (changing) runs, or runs to pass, or passes to run."
The audible system, Linehan said, "will be fairly simplified. But we'll have a
lot of different tools to use. On first down, if they're playing the run, if
they're anticipating the run, I want to be able to have a simple way of getting
to a pass. And vice versa. It's much easier to call plays when your quarterback
is controlling that element of it."
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
We need to get a good TE that can catch.... so we can expand the TE role
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by RamsFan4ever
We need to get a good TE that can catch.... so we can expand the TE role
Joe Klopfenstein in the 3rd
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Vernon Davis in the first or Marcedes Lewis in the 2nd.
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
the no huddle and audible thing sounds EXACTLY like Peyton Manning!!! haha, and I heard that Bulger will also have a bigger role when it comes to plays to use so hey, this is gonna be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD I LOVE THE RAMS!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
For example, Linehan is a firm believer in a quick tempo on offense - as was Martz.
I'm not sure what "quick tempo" refers to, but Martz wasn't exactly lightning quick with getting his plays called, often to the frustration of his QB's. That's something I would like to see change.
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
With more emphasis on the 5 yard chuck rule enforcement, the TE can be a very dangerous weapon in the right system. With 3 very dangerous WR's and a RB that can break one at anytime, the TE position on the Rams could be a dagger to opposing defenses.
That being said, Manu is not the dagger type. Even though I would love to see the Rams take Michael Huff at S in the first roung, if Vernon Davis and Michael Huff are available, the Rams will take Davis and immediately make him a weapon in Linehan's system.
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
shoot Manu is more a wet carrot than a dagger LOL
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by txramsfan
With more emphasis on the 5 yard chuck rule enforcement, the TE can be a very dangerous weapon in the right system. With 3 very dangerous WR's and a RB that can break one at anytime, the TE position on the Rams could be a dagger to opposing defenses.
That being said, Manu is not the dagger type. Even though I would love to see the Rams take Michael Huff at S in the first roung, if Vernon Davis and Michael Huff are available, the Rams will take Davis and immediately make him a weapon in Linehan's system.
This sounds very surprising coming from you Tx. I agree that an athletic TE would pay huge dividends, but at the expense of strengthening the defense, especially with a player like Huff available? I guess it all comes down to greatest potential return on investment.
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Wait a minute, I'm not saying TX would take Davis overr Huff, I'm saying the RAMS will take Davis over Huff.
there is a difference.
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by txramsfan
Wait a minute, I'm not saying TX would take Davis overr Huff, I'm saying the RAMS will take Davis over Huff.
there is a difference.
Oh, that is different. My bad!
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
I know all of you are aware of what I've said about Vernon Davis in the past. With that said...Ok....you older guys...do you have your nitro tablets...and you younger guys...don't trash this old man too much...but I have come around. If Vernon Davis is available at 11, or if we could trade up one or two spots to get him...I think we should.
I have seen the light!!!!
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigredman
I know all of you are aware of what I've said about Vernon Davis in the past. With that said...Ok....you older guys...do you have your nitro tablets...and you younger guys...don't trash this old man too much...but I have come around. If Vernon Davis is available at 11, or if we could trade up one or two spots to get him...I think we should.
I have seen the light!!!!
I'm 16 and had to pop in some nitrogen pills:eek: since you had disagreed with the drafting of him! I agree though do what it takes to get Vernon Davis. He could be a huge star this season!
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by txramsfan
Wait a minute, I'm not saying TX would take Davis overr Huff, I'm saying the RAMS will take Davis over Huff.
there is a difference.
Hey HUB, Tx is using that 3rd person thingy again!LOL
Re: Linehan gives peek at playbook
Also hope this isn't an offense that is easy to figure out , cause they're to busy running the same play to get it right! Hey maybe it will be Jackson left , jackson right. That will make Jackson happy and we will be watching the Playoffs from home!:)
