When Mike Shanahan adopted a system that favored smaller but more athletic offensive lineman I thought this tactic took good advantage of the thin air in Denver. I also thought it would not work anywhere else but Denver. I was pretty comfy with that conclusion until I watched this year’s playoffs. I watched Baltimore’s huge offensive tackles get whipped on the regular by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. I watched the Cowboys huge offensive tackles be made to look like statues while Jared Allen and Ray Edwards beat Tony Romo to a pulp.  What did I learn? I learned that the better the athlete, the better your chance of success.

I can see why Shanahan took his chances with guys that were more mobile and in better overall condition. Right now pass rushers dominate the league. The evolution of offensive football will require faster lineman to block the pass rushers.
The Denver teams that dominated the league during their super bowl runs were very athletic. They used a zone blocking scheme that required the offensive lineman not to destroy the other guy at the point of attack but to simply get a hat on a hat long enough for the running back to get by. That is why it seemed like Denver grew 1000 yard backs in a garden somewhere on their property. That is why Mike Shanahan did not hesitate to trade Clinton Portis because he knew a large portion of Portis success was due to the athletes in front of him. Given the speed of pass rushers today it only makes sense that your offensive line be equipped to handle them.


The same principle applies for defense. For example, Albert Haynesworth has freakish strength and cannot be blocked by anyone consistently. The problem is he is so poorly conditioned that he has to leave the game almost every other play.  Haynesworth is a $100 million dollar, zero-sum player unless coaches can find a way to maximize his value every play. I have no doubt Coach Shanahan is going to shoot very straight with Haynesworth. They will either come to an agreement to improve his fitness/endurance levels or Haynesworth will be wearing another jersey.