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The ground rules for excellence in Denver

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Troy Aikman

Were you were surprised when Reuben Droughns rushed for 193 yards against Carolina in Week 5? Shame on you. In Denver, the names of the ballcarriers change, but the system that produces their great performances doesn't.

Years ago, coach Mike Shanahan and his offensive line coach, Alex Gibbs, devised a running game that is not overly complicated but is very effective. It requires a talented running back, but it starts with an athletic group of linemen who can work in unison.

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The Broncos' bread-and-butter, the stretch play, is a good example. When the ball is snapped, the entire line moves laterally in one direction--to the right, let's say. Denver uses a zone blocking scheme, so each lineman puts a body on whichever defender is in his zone. Meanwhile, the blockers on the back side (the left tackle and left guard, in this case) focus on putting defenders on the ground. They use cut blocks, which aren't illegal, though they push the limits. Defenders fall.

The play requires patience from the runner because while he's sliding to the right, parallel to the line, he's looking for a hole to open. He can burst through any hole he spots, but the classic move is to cut back through the area where defenders are lying on the ground. Broncos backs have busted some long runs that way over the years.

The beauty of this scheme is that if defenders get wise and increase their backside pursuit, the quarterback can run bootlegs because the defense no longer has anyone to contain the outside perimeter. The Broncos run a lot of plays, but this general system of lateral blocking movement and utilizing cutback lanes has been enormously effective.

Continuity also is a big part of Denver's success running the ball. Gibbs has moved on to Atlanta, but coordinator Gary Kubiak, running backs coach Bobby Turner and line coach Rick Dennison have been with Shanahan since he arrived in Denver in 1995. Most of the linemen have been together for years, too. This is a well-schooled group.

In the early years under Shanahan, when Terrell Davis was racking up 1,000-yard seasons (and even a 2,008-yard season in 1998), the back got the glory. Davis was outstanding, but when you consider that Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson and Clinton Portis also rushed for 1,000 yards--and that Droughns has rushed for 369 yards over the last two weeks--it is apparent that the system and a gifted line have been equally responsible.

This isn't a knock on any of those backs. It's just a tip of the hat to Shanahan and a system that allowed his team to trade Portis for cornerback Champ Bailey and not miss a beat.

The Troy Aikman Show airs at 5 p.m. ET every Thursday through the Super Bowl on Sporting News Radio. Listen online at radio.sportingnews.com.

The ground rules for excellence in Denver

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Troy Aikman

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