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July 15, 2017 at 3:36 pm #70991
znModeratorWHAT HAPPENS TO REDSKINS OFFENSE IF SEAN MCVAY LEAVES?
JP Finlay
January 09, 2017http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washington-redskins/what-happens-redskins-offense-if-sean-mcvay-leaves
For months rumors swirled that Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay would draw interest for head coaching opportunities.
Those rumors came true this offseason, as McVay has already interviewed with the Rams for their vacant head coach position and will talk Monday with the 49ers about their top job.
It appears the talks with Los Angeles went well and the team is digging deep into the 30-year-old’s background for more information.
Of course, McVay has lived a football life. He began his coaching career with Tampa in 2008 at just 22 years old, landed with the Redskins in 2010, and took over at offensive coordinator in 2014. Redskins players have said they have ‘no doubt’ about McVay’s ability to coach a team, and it seems the question is more when than if he gets a head job.
And while that’s all great news for McVay, what does it mean for the Redskins?
Washington’s offense is the strength of the team, and one of the more effective units in the NFL. The team ranked 3rd in the NFL in yards gained and quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for more than 4,900 yards, both significant improvements from 2015.
Chris Thompson, a fourth-year running back that took advantage of his opportunities in the Redskins system, said that losing McVay would be tough but should not cause major changes as the offensive design comes from head coach Jay Gruden.
“As far as the offense goes if anybody’s worried, it’s Sean and Coach Gruden incorporating their ideas together. It would be big just because it might put a little bit more on Coach Gruden. He may be in a situation where he might have to go back to play calling again,” Thompson said. “It’s something that Coach Gruden is used to.”
Play calling will be one area that McVay’s absence could have a big impact. In 2014, Gruden called the Redskins plays despite being a rookie head coach. That task, along with running the whole team, proved to be somewhat of a burden and in 2015 Gruden shared play calling duties with McVay and offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
This past season, though Gruden, Callahan and QB Coach Matt Cavanugh had input, play calling was exclusively the domain of McVay. The young coordinator got the credit when things went well, and took the heat when the Redskins offense bogged down. At times last year, the Redskins had a bad habit of getting away from the running attack, and McVay owned that when the criticism inevitably came.
After a December loss to the Cardinals in Arizona that saw the Redskins run less than 20 times despite averaging more than 4-yards-per-carry, McVay took the blame.
“I definitely feel like I could’ve been more patient on some of those early down and distances where you get a little bit pass-heavy. And that’s something that as a decision-maker and as a coordinator, I have to do a better job,” he said.
It’s that level of honesty and accountability that likely appeals to NFL owners when they look at McVay as a head coaching candidate.
For the Redskins, McVay is undeniably an asset, but his departure should not set the offense back with Gruden still running the ship.
‘It’s pretty much his offense, so he’ll be comfortable with it I’m sure,” Thompson said.
July 15, 2017 at 3:37 pm #70992znModeratorMOVING ON: THE IMPACT OF SEAN MCVAY’S DEPARTURE ON THE REDSKINS COACHING STAFF
Moving On: The impact of Sean McVay’s departure on the Redskins coaching staff
The rumors finally came true.
This week, the Los Angeles Rams stunned the league, tapping 30-year-old whiz kid, Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, to be their next head coach.
McVay, along with Atlanta Falcons and former Washington coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, were hot names on the coaching market, with their reputations as offensive gurus. Atlanta and Washington finished second and third, respectively, in yards per game, this season.
McVay will attempt to work the same quarterback magic on former, number-one-pick Jared Goff, as he did with Redskins QB, Kirk Cousins. The Rams scored a paltry 224 points (an average of 14 per game), in 2016, which was dead last in the NFL.
As for McVay’s former employer, Washington suddenly finds itself with two vacant coaching slots, having already fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry, earlier this month. The past two weeks have been devoted to finding Barry’s replacement, even as rumors continued to swirl around McVay.
There are a few quality candidates left, on the defensive side – including the supposed front-runner, Gus Bradley. However, in terms of offensive-minds, the cupboard is pretty bare.
The biggest names out there are probably ex-San Francisco head coach Chip Kelly and Minnesota offensive coordinator Norv Turner. It is unlikely the latter would be willing to coach for Skins’ owner Daniel Snyder again. As for Kelly, it is unclear whether Gruden would be willing to work with such a headstrong personality, one who might challenge his authority.
A lot could happen between now and April 18th, the first day of OTA’s. But, in all likelihood, the Redskins will promote from within, while handing a larger load of the play-calling duties back to the head coach, Jay Gruden.
O-line coach Bill Callahan and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh have over ten combined years of experience as offensive coordinators. Callahan already had a hand in helping to formulate the weekly game plan with Gruden and McVay. A promotion would see him filling a similar role to the one he served in Dallas, as the OC/O-line coach.
Will it work? Assuming that Washington retains their star quarterback, Cousins, major changes will not be needed on offense. McVay had gradually taken over the play-calling reins, but the overall philosophy and offensive-principles were and are still of Gruden’s hand.
Gruden is certainly qualified for the role. He served as Cincinnati’s OC from 2011-2013, and the Bengals offense improved every year. They ranked 22nd in points scored in 2010, the year before he got there. In his three seasons, they improved to 18th, 12th and 6th, respectively.
The problem is, the head coaching position brings more responsibilities, a greater division of attentions. One of the main concerns about the Redskins, last year, was the seeming-lack of focus. Gruden is a players’ coach and, at times, it felt that was taken clear advantage of.
As the defense crashed and burned, there was never a feeling that anyone was being held properly-accountable. For example, after the Josh Norman signing, cornerback Bashaud Breeland marched into Joe Barry’s office and informed him he would still be covering opponent’s number one wide receivers.
Rather then laughing the threat off, Barry acquiesced to his player’s demands, a move that would prove costly, as Breeland was roasted by Antonio Brown for 125 yards and two scores.
Instances like that would never happen under the watch of a head coach with absolute authority. Gruden needs to take a more proactive role in the big picture and not just tend to the sculpting of his offense. With more of his attention devoted to calling the plays, will more incidents skate by under his distracted nose?
As for that empty d-coordinator position, it will be important for the skins to go with someone experienced, with the clout that demands players’ respect. The last time around, the Skins passed on Wade Phillips to go with Barry.
Barry’s previous coordinator experience included shepherding the Lions’ unit, during their 0-16 season. But, for the first-time-head-coach Gruden, Barry made for a less-intimidating presence on the sidelines than the more-accomplished Phillips.
Gruden must be willing to set aside his ego and go with what’s right for the team. Defense is not his area of expertise, and he will need someone capable – especially if McVay’s departure leads to his attentions being further divided.
July 15, 2017 at 3:47 pm #70993znModeratorRedskins’ playcalling will change with new coordinators
Jan 28, 2017
John KeimThe Washington Redskins will have a new playcaller on both sides of the ball — well, coach Jay Gruden used to call plays on offense and will again next year after not doing so the last two years. And defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has called plays, just not in Washington. What changes might we see? That’s the topic of the mailbag.
Guapo @HolaDaps
with the coordinators being promoted from within how much can we expect to change from a play calling standpoint. #jkmailbagJohn Keim: There obviously will be differences because no two people call the same game and some have a better feel for the rhythm of a game and when to be aggressive, etc. I will say, defensively at least, for those who think it was all about playcalling, you’re just a bit off. That said, I do know at least some people in the building wanted a more aggressive approach defensively. (That can be with blitzes or how coverages are played, so it’s not just about sending extra defenders.)
You can dial up a certain blitz and wow everyone. But really, it’s about being prepared, playing disciplined, doing your job and executing properly. Do that more often than not and you’ll be fine.
But don’t forget: The Redskins were like that under Jim Haslett, too. How you disguise a coverage or blitz matters; the timing of the call matters. But if a guy executes improperly or if there’s confusion, it’s not about the call. It might be about the teaching — that’s on the position coaches. It might be about ever-changing rules (a complaint I heard several years ago), which leads to confusion and then big plays. It might be about the talent.
The funny thing is, one person who likes the Manusky promotion and worked in the same organization as him in the past said he skewed conservative. But I know one appealing thing about him before this process started was the expectation that he’d be more attacking than outgoing DC Joe Barry — and Manusky promised that’s the sort of defense he wanted during an interview on ESPN 980 (I would love to ask him myself more about it so we all could learn more; requests have been declined).
From 2010-14, the Redskins averaged 205.8 blitzes per season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Manusky’s last defense, the Colts’, averaged 204.5 per season. In the last two seasons, the Redskins called for 117 and 182, respectively.
I know the question was about playcalls, but usually for a defense that means how aggressive it is, which is why I bring up blitzes. I’d be more concerned about what’s being taught on the back end as far as coverages, so there’s less confusion. That was an issue last year. I know there’s been a belief that the Redskins have good corners who can play more press coverage.
Also, this is true: If the Redskins improve their defensive personnel, Manusky can call a different and more effective game.
Offensively, Gruden has helped shape the game plan the last two years even though he wasn’t calling plays. It’s also hard to compare what Gruden called three years ago to what he might call in 2017. In 2014, he used three quarterbacks and the offense never quite found a consistent rhythm. Now he’ll be calling plays for a more evolved offense. Outgoing OC Sean McVay, now the Rams’ head coach, was continuing to evolve as a playcaller, too (and was a very good one). Gruden is further ahead in that development.
I also think Gruden tended to have less predictable personnel groupings and formations. But in talking to some players, they didn’t think a whole lot would change because the philosophy will be the same. Both McVay and Gruden, one player said, know how to use their personnel. For what it’s worth, it wasn’t just a matter of McVay running Gruden’s offense. They incorporated some of what previous Skins OC Kyle Shanahan used to run, and Bill Callahan was/is in charge of the run game.
The game plan also will depend on what happens at quarterback and with the receivers in the offseason. I do think the Redskins would like more balance than they had this season: 607 pass attempts, 379 runs. While McVay liked play-action, Gruden has used it more. The Redskins used it on 127 dropbacks in 2014 compared to 101 and 103 the past two years, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They averaged 11.98 yards per play-action attempt in ’14 compared to 10.42 the past two years combined. Make of that what you will.
July 15, 2017 at 6:03 pm #70998
HerzogParticipantJay Gruden passed on Wade Phillips? What a dumbass
July 16, 2017 at 9:53 am #71015
InvaderRamModeratoran aside note. i’m a little worried about mcvay trying to handle both hc and playcalling duties as a 31 year old rookie hc. moreso after reading about gruden.
i’m hoping he eventually hands the playcalling duties to lafleur.
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This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by InvaderRam.
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This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by InvaderRam.
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