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I was pretty excited about the news that the Seahawks had signed Alex Gibbs, but it's clear that not everyone understGibbs and the Texansood why. That's totally fair, he is, after all, just an offensive line coach. Ask me to name any offensive line coach in the league whose name is neither Solari or Gibbs, and I might make a name up and sprint out the door. The reason I know Gibbs is that I did a bit of reading up on this new "zone blocking scheme" that Knapp was going to get going in Seattle. Well, it didn't work out too well with Knapp and Solari, in large part because of injuries and perhaps larger part because of personnel. So, who is this guy?

The Godfather

Alex Gibbs is the Godfather of the Zone Blocking System. No one in the NFL has been as influential on the offensive line as Gibbs. After spending 14 years in the college ranks (Duke, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio State, Auburn, Georgia), Gibbs made the move to the NFL with the Broncos in 1984. He stuck there through '87 before hopping over to the Raiders, Chargers, Colts and Chiefs before winding up back in Denver in 1995. He stayed there through 2003 and with Mike Shanahan put together some of the best offensive lines in NFL history, creating thousand yard rushers out of nobodies.

Remember Terrell Davis? He's one of six NFL rushers to ever top 2,000 yards, which he did behind a phenomenal offensive line in Denver. John Elway's success was driven by the pass protection in many ways. What is most amazing is that these aren't high draft picks that Gibbs is working with. The earliest a team with Gibbs on the staff has ever drafted a tackle is 26th, which was by the Texans in 2008; prior to that, it was 121st. The average pick since 1995 for Tackles is #137, Guards/Centers is #138 and Running Backs is #144.

Gibbs trusts his system and he implements it. He is a teacher and a hardass. If you're failing to get it done, you won't get it done because you'll be riding a bench. Offensive linemen will cut block, they will do it often, and they will do it effectively. This isn't Knapp and Mora, you won't be given a season to "get it."

What can we expect?

First of all: fewer sacks. In 25 years of coaching, an Alex Gibbs offensive line has rarely allowed more than 35 sacks and from 1995-2000 that did not happen once. In 2009 with the Texans, the O-Line allowed only 25 sacks vs 593 pass attempts, or 4.2% of the time. The Seahawks allowed 41 sacks last year vs 609 attempts or 6.7 sack rate.

Secondly, you can expect a better run game. We heard this last year, but that was more about rushing yards than yards per attempt, a much more important stat. Pete Carroll yesterday laid out that the most important thing for this team is to get the running game going strong, and there is no one better suited to do that than Alex Gibbs. From 2007 to 2008, Gibbs improved the YPC of Texans running backs from 3.7 to 4.3, a franchise record. Now, that doesn't sound like a lot of yards, but taken over 400 rush attempts that's an extra 240 yards. It's also the difference between a first down and a punt on a whole lot of run attempts.

Third, Alex Gibbs' offenses have been able to be balanced and allow the OC to game plan. If your offense cannot both run and pass the ball effectively, they can be easily gameplanned for and shut down. Everyone knew going into the Cardinals game this past year that the Seahawks were going to pass 100 times and none would be more than about 7 yard passes. They sniffed that out and that was that. We couldn't run, we were practically paralytic at times. We couldn't protect Hasselbeck long enough to let a play develop. Alex Gibbs and Jeremy Bates can fix that issue. Gibbs can protect, and Bates can keep it interesting and game plan around defenses rather than around our crappy offense.

Fun Facts

  • I tweeted a couple of these last night, but here those are and some more
  • In 25 years, teams with Alex Gibbs as a coach have drafted precisely 6 offensive tackles, 3 in last 5 years. One of those: Brandon Frye.
  • Since 1995, no team with Alex Gibbs as a coach has drafted a running back in 1st round; Clinton Portis at 51, Jerrious Norwood at 79, Steve Slaton at 89.
  • In 25 years, teams with Alex Gibbs have drafted 33 running backs or 1.3 per year. In recent years, they have often relied on free agency to grab journeyman backs who, under Gibbs, can run for 1,000 yards.
  • Highest picks per position: Tackle - 26 in 2008, Guard/ Center - 47 in 1991 and 61 in 1999, running back - 25 in 1994 and 51 in 2002. I break up pre and post 1994 because that's about when Free Agency really started kicking.

(Disclaimer: Gibbs has had nothing to do with drafting except when asked for input on what he needs. Still, telling that he's had so much success with such low picks.)

 

Comments (65)Add Comment
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written by @sea hawks fan, January 13, 2010
I'm so pumped its awesome!!!
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written by hawkcouver, January 13, 2010
so if he doesn't need a RB or Tackle in the first fifteen picks we may be looking at a QB or a DT.
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written by hawkcouver, January 13, 2010
man we are making moves. at the very least we are busy and not sitting on our hands. I'm pupmed cuz Pete is pumped. I'm pumped cuz John Clayton loves Jeremy Bates and Gibbs. And Clayton has personal experience with Bates and personally backed him 100 percent. I'm excited when the talking heads are excited.
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written by Riggle, January 13, 2010
Thanks for the great write-up Chris!
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written by mmf, January 13, 2010
Good write -up ,enjoyed it Looks like we may not be going after RBs I for one would love one.All along I have not been sold on this zone blocking I like the Idea of a big line man who dominates the man right in front of him,but those may be hard to find.I wonder of the teams in the play-offs how many run zone?
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written by elgranderojo, January 13, 2010
I'm excited about Gibbs too. I think it should be said that he is more infamous for cut blocking than zone blocking. Zone blocking doesn't specifically require cutting, it just makes it easier to do because the lineman don't necessarily have a specific man to block right in front of them.
Great job Chris!
written by Farmer Paul, January 13, 2010
Does this mean we keep Julius Jones? I hope Pete sees that Forsett should be our starter. I wonder what this means for Sims, Spencer, and Locklear.
Max Unger
written by Farmer Paul, January 13, 2010
Gibbs is going to love Unger!
Nice work lately with the blog!
written by Casper, January 13, 2010
I know that Alex Gibbs is a legend of the ZBS and I am happy to have his services for sure. One thing that came to mind though is that the Texans were one of if not the worst running teams in the league last year.
No first round RB's
written by Billy Showbiz, January 13, 2010
I still hope we get CJ Spiller. If not maybe a guy like Jahvid Best. I could see Pete going after Joe McKnight too. We'll see, I just hope we get someone explosive.
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written by tam, January 13, 2010
Casper, on the flip side though however, they lead the league in passing yards if i am not mistaken, which means they have great passing protection. for whats it worth, matt wont run around like a chicken with his head cut off.
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written by hasselhawk2, January 13, 2010
but what about Slaton in 2008, he had a monster Rookie year i believe.
Texans rushing attack
written by PaulOt, January 13, 2010
The problem with the Texans run attack in 09 was their backs kept fumbling the ball, and getting either benched because of it or injured. With that kind of inconsistency it's no wonder they didn't succeed.
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written by T.J., January 13, 2010
I can't remember where I read this, but Gibb's teams don't draft OL very high - ever. In fact, I don't believe he has ever had an o-lineman drafted in the 1st round. He just coaches them up.
TJ, is that true?
written by Hawksince77, January 13, 2010
Gibbs doesn't draft linemen very high? If you can find out where you read that I am sure we'd all love to read it, and perhaps Chris can incorporate that into...wait, he already did...
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written by Mr Fish, January 13, 2010
If anyone can "coach up" our current linemen, Gibbs can.

The real question is, can this group "get it"? Who's going to play after he's sent all of them to the bench?
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written by omar little, January 13, 2010
With the true ZBS and Pete Carroll coming in I would be very surprised if we don't draft Charles Brown in the first. Brown was recruited as a tight end but convered to tackle once he starting gaining muscle mass, so you know he is a very athletic player. I don't think we let Brown or Bruce Campbell slip past us as they are both athletic freaks and seem ideal for the ZBS.

I like Campbell better because he is stronger and has higher upside but I think Carroll and company will go with Brown.
Outstanding
written by Penn State Hawk, January 13, 2010
I am a big fan of Gibbs since his time in Denver in the 90's. He had a lot to do with TDs 2000 yard season and 2 Super Bowl Trophies
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written by huskyhawk12, January 13, 2010
campbell and iupati in the first anyone?
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written by T.J., January 13, 2010
Oops. I have read so much lately, it is starting to run together. Sorry. I commented several hours after actually reading the story. Good job Chris...
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written by Justincredible, January 14, 2010
I gotta say this is the best move the Hawks have made. The line is the foundation of a football team and has we have found out that if you do not have a line that can block every aspect of your team will suffer. Looking forward to seeing improvements in this area.
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