..keep the attack balanced with some well timed completions and the occasional big play.
Even quoting you correctly I still stand by my statement. That is a misleading description of Gruden's offense. Even further implying that Gruden does not demand much from the QB position. I say that is far from the truth.
There is nothing simple about Gruden's offense nor of what Gruden asks of all of his QB's to do. Gruden not only wants a QB that can run his offense but do the extra things as well (audible, using their feet, improvising, etc).
An occasional big play and some well timed completions is not how I would describe Jon's offense.
Using your feet, audibiling, improvising, etc is going above and beyond what an offensive system calls for. Gruden not only wants his QB's to play within his offensive system but to go outside of it as well. That is why your description of Jon's offense seems very strange to me.
That is why many people will disagree heavily with you on your description of Gruden's offense.
They can disagree all they want. The attributes you describe as what Gruden wants from his QB are pretty much universal, so that's not much of an argument.
I base my opinion, and I'm not preaching gospel, on facts. The facts being that the best offense Gruden ever had, both record and scoring wise, was his 2000 Raider team. That team's RB stable averaged 4.5 yard per carry
(read: strong run game), and that's not including Gannon's scrambles. Conversely, ranking only
25th in passing
attempts and a workmanlike
19th in pass yardage, Gannon still amassed an impressively efficient 28 TD to only 11 ints. I'd imagine that was in part because defenses had to respect the run, wouldn't you?
Another couple of facts are the
"take off the robe and throw punches" quote attributed to Gruden after the 2004 season regarding the run game
(what could possibly have motivated him to say that?) and the fact that he's drafted heavily along the OL since then, in addition to signing Petitgout, who comes from a team that ranked 15th or better in rushing all but once since 2001.
Add all that up, and it's clear that Gruden knows what makes his offense work at it's highest level, and that's the
balance between the passing and running game. But the running game has to be there first, which is my point, based on the history, words and actions of the head coach.
You seem to take my words to the extreme, but I never said this offense doesn't need a good QB. He doesnt have to be a superstar, ask Brad Johnson, just one who can take advantage of the opportunities presented by a running game and maintain that aforementioned balance, i.e.
some well timed completions and the occasional big play. and OK, with Garcia, a
scramble here and there..
Feel free to diagree some more, but I hope that clears my persective up a little.
