Quote:I'm not trying to rationalize someone else's opinion.  I just agree with it.  Mike Shanahan with the Broncos went from Terrell Davis to Olandis Gary to Mike Anderson to Clinton Portis to Reubun Droughns to Tatum Bell....  rolled out 1,000 yard rushers year after year without blinking an eye.  The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to go through 3-4 OLBs like my wife does shoes.  They've developed schemes where players are highly interchangeable parts thus making the player himself less valuable.  Obviously there is a base minimum required skillset needed for the position but there appears to be a significant amount of players that have that.

 

Have the Jags created a scheme in order to take advantage of a unique set of skills that only a few including Andre Branch possess?  Or has Branch been able to take advantage of a scheme that allows for a number of interchangeable players to generate good stats?  If the latter, then I agree his sack total is not as impressive.  I'd be surprised if we'd let him go now since he is still on his rookie deal.  But if he is playing a position that is highly interchangeable, then I'd be surprised if he made it past his rookie contract.... unless we got a very team friendly deal.

 

I think the scheme can emphasize certain parts of the game from a team stand point, but individual players make plays.  The teams you mentioned have a history of drafting great players.  Chicken or the egg I guess but most coaches will tell you that the teams in the NFL basically play the same schemes with only minor adjustments here or there.  Occasionally an some new idea will come along but if it's successful, it'll be copied in no time.

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