There has been a lot of discussion on the many improvements this year that have led to apparent improvement. Coaching, better personnel, a solid draft, better schemes, and even a different attitude are all important, but there is one huge difference in the Saban era. Unlike Wanny, Saban and Linehan understand the value of the passing game.
Just yesterday, Wanny was quoted as saying that his Pittsburgh team is... "going to line it up and run the ball." He still hasn't learned. After all he went through as an NFL coach, he just doesn't understand the value of the passing game.
Saban, Linehan, and Houck get it. They knew Shanahan was going to load up the box and dare the Dolphins to pass the ball. We saw that defense almost every game last year and it usually worked well for the other team. It forces a guy like Wanny who plays not to lose, to abandon his ball-control offense and take chances or rely on, and eventually burn out, his defense.
Houck knew that he had to first make sure that these guys could handle pass blocking and give Gus time to throw the ball. Gus, like most NFL QB's, will do well when they have time to throw the ball, especially with our weapons. Houck and Linehan worked together to make sure we could do that. Until we established that we could pass the ball, every week would be a challenge.
Now Herm Edwards is in a dilemma. Does he stack the box and risk getting burned like Denver did last week? Does he back off, put in extra DB's to force the run game, and watch Ronnie pound the ball, control the clock, keep his defense on the field all day, and be susceptible to the play-action pass?
Wanny never established a reliable passing game. No one feared us. Houck and Linehan knew that everything starts from the passing game. When other teams respect us, all options are open. Now, Houck can concentrate on putting together a better run blocking unit and Linehan can bring a balanced offense and react to what the D is giving us. That's the beauty of not being a one-dimensional offense.
Just yesterday, Wanny was quoted as saying that his Pittsburgh team is... "going to line it up and run the ball." He still hasn't learned. After all he went through as an NFL coach, he just doesn't understand the value of the passing game.
Saban, Linehan, and Houck get it. They knew Shanahan was going to load up the box and dare the Dolphins to pass the ball. We saw that defense almost every game last year and it usually worked well for the other team. It forces a guy like Wanny who plays not to lose, to abandon his ball-control offense and take chances or rely on, and eventually burn out, his defense.
Houck knew that he had to first make sure that these guys could handle pass blocking and give Gus time to throw the ball. Gus, like most NFL QB's, will do well when they have time to throw the ball, especially with our weapons. Houck and Linehan worked together to make sure we could do that. Until we established that we could pass the ball, every week would be a challenge.
Now Herm Edwards is in a dilemma. Does he stack the box and risk getting burned like Denver did last week? Does he back off, put in extra DB's to force the run game, and watch Ronnie pound the ball, control the clock, keep his defense on the field all day, and be susceptible to the play-action pass?
Wanny never established a reliable passing game. No one feared us. Houck and Linehan knew that everything starts from the passing game. When other teams respect us, all options are open. Now, Houck can concentrate on putting together a better run blocking unit and Linehan can bring a balanced offense and react to what the D is giving us. That's the beauty of not being a one-dimensional offense.
