I find myself in so many cases reacting as an old codger, which of course I am. But, I have always felt that, in a general way, an I with QB under center is a stronger formation than the shotgun.
An I maintains the threat of a tailback doing damage. That is crucial in McV's strategic approach to the game, his notion of "complementary football." And as the whole world knows, establishing Todd's threat is a huge part of what we do. That I with a proven rushing game just forces the defense to deal with so much up the middle.
Of course, one can run from the shotgun. But exchanging the ball through an awkward wrap-around just seems to me a lame, un-leveraged rushing attack. An going empty … I never really like to see that.
You know, in the Red Zone, I would begin each series in the I. Threaten Gurley and the pass. Don't allow the defense to feel it can relax from either threat.
The game has changed a lot. But given an offense with balanced threats rushing and passing, I really believe the I is a stronger set.
