Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Now that Adam Gase is the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, the big question is will the offense look different in 2013? It’s a complicated answer but we’ll give it a shot.
The offense will look very similar to last season’s in terms of the plays, the schemes and so on. If there is a noticeable change, it will be evident in the running game. Gase indicated on Thursday that he wants to run the ball better; not more, just better. The guess here is that the Broncos will use more of the stretch play that Peyton Manning ran a lot when he was with the Indianapolis Colts. A stretch play is simply a handoff deep in the back field that is designed to attack the edges of a defense. Running back Ronnie Hillman is the perfect type of back to run the stretch play, and he is probably the Broncos starting running back on opening day. Hillman is a speed guy and getting him in open space will be a priority for Gase, and the Broncos.
The passing game is going to look almost the same. Manning threw for over 4,700 yards and 37 touchdowns, and there’s no reason to change. The passing game will be better just from a timing aspect; Manning, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker have had a complete season together now and can spend the offseason perfecting everything. The Broncos will also look to add another weapon or two for Manning, especially on third and six.
The biggest change fans are going to see from the Gase offense is the pace; the Broncos will play faster in 2013. As good as the offense was in 2012 – second in the league in points – there were too many times when the offense bogged down. When they decided to dictate the pace, Manning and the offense were tough to stop. The no-huddle was a big part of the 2012 offense but it will be bigger next season. When Gase was asked to describe what his offense will look like, his response was “pedal to the metal.”
That pace of play should help the running game which struggled all season to covert short-yardage situations. Look for Manning to get the offense to the line and snap the ball quickly on third and one. If the defense does not have time to set, then it is a lot tougher to stop a running play. If the Broncos do a better job of converting those situations into first-downs, then the offense stays on the field. If they are staying on the field then more points will follow.
The Broncos were a very good offense last season, but not a great one – Gase wants them to great, and he wants to do it at warp speed.
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