Seahawks Score Coaching Legend Alex Gibbs
by John Morgan on Jan 12, 2010 11:39 AM PST
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PrintHas Alex Gibbs ever failed? It sure doesn't seem like it. The legendary line coach and primary innovator of zone blocking is reportedly Seattle bound, and bringing a truck load of cut blocks with him. Fear for your knees, NFC West, the sloppy pseudo-zone blocking attempted by Greg Knapp and Mike Solari is about to be fixed, finished and fully operational.
Gibbs loves athletic linemen. Seattle has the foundation of a very good line, but could use an upgrade at left tackle, where Sean Locklear is a bad mix of injury prone, low effort and unproven. Gibbs might attempt to reclaim Locklear, but I think it's much more likely that Seattle targets a prototypical Gibbs player. At the confluence of Pete Carroll and Alex Gibbs is Charles Brown.
Peanuts is a lean former tight end that oozes athleticism but lacks size, strength at the point and technique. He shot up mock draft boards, because..well I don't know. He's unfinished and thin. Defensive end prospects will tear his guts out over the next few weeks. He's a lump of clay, a slab of marble, a canvas awaiting the hands of a master.
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Alex Gibbs?
Finally. Someone can show Chris Spencer some love.
I underestimated Carroll's ability to attract a coaching staff.
This is another awesome signing. I have much needed hope for the future offensive line and rushing attack. Ryan Mattews in the 2nd?
I'd rather have have Campbell
just because of the references we could make.
A Mariners fan in Seattle
by Coach Owens on Jan 12, 2010 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
Oh, I thought he was an OT. ; )
I guess we’re even now in misinterpreting what each other was saying.
A Mariners fan in Seattle
by Coach Owens on Jan 12, 2010 12:03 PM PST up reply actions
So it's been a whirlwind of a week and it's hard to keep up with everything
what are the thoughts on Jeremy Bates? So he’s a WCO guy, and was at USC. What else? What kind of WCO? Rhythm and short passes? Pass-heavy? Balance? Run-heavy?
by jacobstevens on Jan 12, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
this will test my dislike for what I hear of zone blocking's knee targetting
versus my desire to WIN BABY WIN
If applied properly
zone blocking doesn’t target the knees. If anyone can impliment a proper zone block scheme it’s Gibbs.
I might also add, it’s not dirty if it’s not illegal.
What relevance do the league's rules have
in determining what’s dirty? They might as well be Pirate’s Code.
I don’t fault anyone for liking ZBS or not having a problem with the knee thing. But they exactly target the knees. That’s where you dive. It’s up to the lineman to save his own walking ability by getting out tha way.
I’ve never liked it, and I still don’t like it, and I won’t complain one bit the day the league finally makes Dr. Z’s rule: “no cutting unless you’re face up.” Even this past year, with the Hawks using it, I don’t like it.
But damn it’s effective. I support its banishment, but while we’re using it, I want it to be executed the right way.
Which is right at the knees.
by jacobstevens on Jan 12, 2010 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
Can someone tell me something real about this Charlie Brown kid?
I don’t know much.
Here are a couple excellent write-ups on him from seahawksdraft.blogspot.com
By Kyle Rota
http://seahawksdraft.blogspot.com/2009/11/charles-brown-lt-usc.html
By Rob Staton
http://seahawksdraft.blogspot.com/2009/10/usc-vs-oregon-state.html
by Mind of no mind on Jan 12, 2010 1:09 PM PST up reply actions
Really he's a perfect mix of Kris Brown and Carlos Silva...
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Jan 13, 2010 11:54 PM PST up reply actions
Nice Hire, Seattle
Gibbs came in and immediately worked wonders with the Houston rushing attack in ‘08. Didn’t have nearly the success in ‘09, but many of us think a hefty portion of that setback was due to us losing both starting guards early in the season (and having a center who gets blown off the ball by NTs, but that didn’t seem to be a deal-breaker in ’08).
Additionally, I’d wager your pass blocking gets exponentially better, too. Gibbs definitely raised Houston’s game there across the board.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
Good News
Hell, terrific news. My opinion of Pete Carroll just went up several notches. The ability to pick and attract good assistants is a prime part of any coach’s job. Gibbs is terrific.
Plus, Gibbs is an excellent evaluator of offensive line talent. The ’Hawks need someone who can pick ’em, just as much as someone to install a scheme.
So much for my initial thought that Pete's recruiting skills would be minimized here...
So far I’m impressed and feeling good about this whole deal.
Alex Gibbs, Captain Dirtbag.
Good news for our pathetic O-line, but then I felt the same way when Mike Solari was hired. All joking aside, that’s a great hire by Carroll. Now if we can address O-line in the first round of the draft, I will be a happy man.
x2 Booooo.
And I was warned about posting Aaron Rodgers’ girlfriend. Keep the pictures of sweaty, half-naked men to yourself.
Noticed on the Texans' board that Gibbs' son is their DB coach
Any chance he comes too?
Next year - please not this year
We need to focus on not having three and outs the majority of a game and scoring touchdowns would be nice too…
I like the 3 – 4 but that takes a lot of time and we would lose one of the better parts of our team, our linebackers. There is a good mix of 3 – 4 and 4 – 3 defenses in the league so plenty of players to choose from.
by Generzal Zod on Jan 12, 2010 7:31 PM PST up reply actions
How would the 3-4 make us 'lose our linebackers'?
We would be able to include Hawthorne as a starter along w/ Tatupu, Hill, and Curry: all on the field at the same time!
We get Alex Gibbs, they get Brian Russell (admittedly from the Jags but hey!)
Like the trade off.
Matt Hasselbeck's satellite TV signals would get intercepted.
Don't know
J. Smith was. So was Curch Van, I know that doesn’t mean much, but i miss Weaver.
by DJ C-Raig on Jan 12, 2010 12:49 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Bummer Thing is Solari
Was perhaps the most likely to be kept. Now if he found an awesome special teams coach….
All the hype over what a great OL coach Solari was
makes me wonder whether our O Linemen have enough talent for even Alex Gibbs to do anything with them.
Mike Iupati.
"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank
Solari was known as a great offensive line coach
but had little zone blocking experience. The mismatch always confused me.
Hubba hubba
Under Gibbs’ zone blocking scheme in 2008, the Texans averaged a franchise-record 4.27 yards per carry a year after mustering only 3.8 yards per carry. The Texans had the fourth-ranked passing attack in the league with a team-record 4,267 yards, allowing only 32 sacks. The offensive line also paved the way for the league’s 13th-best rushing attack with 115.4 yards/game, which was the second-highest total in the team’s seven-year existence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Gibbs
I’m a little surprised he didn’t want to stay in Texas. This is awesome. Building a dream team.
I try and say something constructive and add to the debate, but instead I really feel like saying
WHOOP WHOOP!!!!
WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!
I’M LOVING ME THE IDEA OF AN O-LINE THAT PRODUCES LIKE THAT!!!!
Thanks for humoring me.
This is part of the allure of Pete Carroll
His hiring gave Seattle a little sexiness that we wouldn’t have had and I think Pete Carroll is going to surround himself so he can’t fail.
by Generzal Zod on Jan 12, 2010 7:43 PM PST up reply actions
I wonder why he chose coming here over rejoining Shanahan in Washington.
In the case of Jeremy Bates for OC it has been said that he chose Seattle over Chicago due to better job security. In this case, I would think that Shanahan would be able to offer the same amount of job security, and would have the benefit of a long relationship with Gibbs. I guess the safe bet would be the assistant coach title and maybe more money, but it would be surprising to me if he could not get those things just as well from Washington.
It also seems like he’d have more ties to the DC area, since I’d assume that’s where he grew up while his father was coaching. I don’t know what Joe Gibbs realationship is with Daniel Snyder, but maybe he steered his son away.
I guess none of that really matters though. I’m just glad we have him here.
by Mind of no mind on Jan 12, 2010 3:04 PM PST reply actions
Huh?
I don’t know what Joe Gibbs realationship is with Daniel Snyder, but maybe he steered his son away.
You’re kidding right? Alex Gibbs is 68 years old. Joe is 69.
Oh wow...
I could have sworn I’ve heard multiple times he was his son. That’s pretty embarrassing.
by Mind of no mind on Jan 13, 2010 1:02 AM PST up reply actions
Only to Alex's mom?
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Jan 13, 2010 9:31 AM PST up reply actions
Shanahan is a prick!
That’s why and Daniel Snyder is meddling – I think people are staying away from there like they do Oakland, they will get players with cash but no coaches.
by Generzal Zod on Jan 12, 2010 7:33 PM PST up reply actions
What about Ken Norton Jr?
Any thoughts on what he might do to help A. Curry reach his potential working along Hill, Tatupu and Hawthorne? I think it looks to be a great pick up on the defensive staff.
One of my good buds was a buried in depth LB at USC
And he seems pretty jacked about it, I’m sort of feeding off him. But look how many good LBs have come out of SC and contributed their rookie year. A lot of that is talent, of course, but some has to be attributed to good coaching I would think.
Well, USC has made more "NFL-ready" LB's than a place like, say, Wake Forest.
I hope we get him, I hope he is as good as we hope he is, and I hope Aaron Curry is a MONSTER next year be it his improvement or shrewd coaching.
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Jan 12, 2010 7:00 PM PST up reply actions
Gus Bradley was supposed to be a LB guru.
If Curry develops this season, I will be less inclined to credit Norton and more inclined to credit a year in the league.
Fair enough. But allow me a glimmer of hope, will you?
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Jan 13, 2010 2:16 PM PST up reply actions
He has developed some amazing LB's
I think he will make some great game plans, we need to give him some help in the secondary though.
by Generzal Zod on Jan 12, 2010 7:34 PM PST up reply actions
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