I would rate Dennison *much* higher (A-), given how much better the rushing attack is. Additional kudos if he had anything to do with talking up Foster, given Kubiak's seeming reluctance to fully commit to the guy most of last year and even throughout the offseason. I know the passing game has regressed; but I think that's squarely on Schaub, not coaching. He's a rhythm passer who I think is struggling to find consistency in an offense where the rushing attack is so formidable. When he's been asked to carry the load (all of last year, the Redskin and Chief games this season) - he's been pretty unstoppable. When Foster has been our best offensive weapon and primary go-to guy, Schaub has struggled. Even in wins.
Someone posted some great comments here recently about the different types of routes Dennison uses as opposed to Shanahan, and how much more "open" the guys were last year due to these different routes. The gist of it was that Dennison's routes rely more on the WR to "outrun" the DB, while Shanahan's were more timing/scheme thing. (I'm not stating it well, but it was an excellent observation.) It would seem, if the observation is correct, that would make quite a difference in passing game effectiveness. If you're asking WRs like Kevin Walter to "outrun" a DB when that's clearly not his game, you're not going to succeed as much.
You can't give him an A- when he has essentially ruined the #1 passing game from last year. No way it is on Schaub, playcalling has been nothing short of pathetic. Constant bootlegs with single receivers, no down the field plays, and no creativity in the routes as no one is ver getting open
Interesting, though I'm not surprised. It does seem like the passing game has taken a step back and Schaub, who last year was a considered a shade below the Manning/Brees/Rodgers-class, has been inconsistent every week.
msn, I didn't get to thank you on your comments on my post in the other thread, so please allow me to say it here. Thank you for the kind words. It's the most maddening part of watching this offense this year. In the past couple of years, you'd see such a well-designed passing game (see the Green Bay game from 2008) that teams would have to pick their poison. This year, if a team takes away the injured AJ, you pretty much relegate our passing attack toothless. Major props on shoring up the running game, now we need to get the aerial attack clicking to atone for our defenseless defense.
Interesting, if true. (And I'm not denying it.) But I'm curious why something like that would change if, as I assume, the offense is Kubaik's creation. He called plays the first three years - why would he allow Dennison to make such a radical change, and more importantly: why wouldn't he change it back? (I know, I know - Kubaik's a moron.) Another aspect could very simply be: teams have caught up to it. For the first time in his tenure, teams had a full 16 games worth of film on Schaub, games in which he was throwing *a lot* because the run game was so pathetic. Also: Johnson is not the same player with the ankle; but neither is Walter or certainly Daniels. I think that's a giant factor, too. I'd be curious to see if these same concerns existed with a fully healthy offense.
Interesting but he doesn't mention a far more likely culprit: Andre Johnson's health, not to mention Owen Daniels', who, if memory served, often ran the underneath on these plays last year. Again, I keep going back to Kubiak - it's his offense, not Shanahan's. If Dennison was messing with it to the point of reduced production, surely Kubiak would step in and fix things.
Until blissfully unaware Bob wakes up, we will suffer. I couldn't get my mind around him not firing Gary midway through last year. But no axe AND an EXTENSION at the end of the season. We shouldn't be surprised at the level of incompetence on display. But when does it end? no exit strategy? Just complete confidence ..........Downright scary stuff from Bob!
You already see the Chronic greasing the wheels for him coming back, pointing out that changing coaches could be extra problematic during a lockout year.
