The Denver Broncos will face Kyle Shanahan's offense, and a lot of it will be things they've seen before.
When the Denver Broncos take the field against the San Francisco 49ers, they’ll have what might be described as the ultimate Shanahan experience. Across the field they’ll get an up close and personal look at the Kyle Shanahan, knowing that the coach who originated it is former Broncos Hall of Fame coach Mike Shanahan.
The so-called Shanahan offense has influenced nearly every other kind of offense in the NFL, as Sam Jane of the Denver Post noted, and it’s safe to say that dozens have coaches have had success with it at some point.
It’s a very quarterback-friendly offense, as former Broncos QB Bubby Brister noted in the piece Jane did, but Brister was initially shocked by the amount of verbiage in the terminology. Play calls can contain up to 15 words, and Brister added that players were required to submit tests during the week about it.
The variations depend on the talent, but motion and deception are two common elements. The success is why owners keep hiring coaches who are familiar with the system as part of the so-called Shanahan tree.
Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey said the offense is designed to put defenders “in conflict” in a variety of different ways. Horizontal routes, motions before the snap, and putting players in different spots makes it difficult to defend, and 49ers even sent offensive tackle Trent Williams in motion before the snap at one point to pave the way for a running back.
Kyle Shanahan is a master at this, and it’s about creating leverage as well. It makes the Niners’ run game successful, almost regardless of who the backs are, and that sets up the play-action game, which is a staple of every team in the NFL and has been for a long time.
All of this may look familiar to Broncos fans given how long Mike Shanahan was the coach in Denver and the level of success he had, and this could be the toughest opponent on their early schedule.
There’s been plenty of competition there from the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, and Rams coach Sean McVay also runs his version of the offense, which is based on heavy formations and multiple tight ends.
There’s a lot to account for, and the Broncos can’t afford to get down big again. If they don’t play four quarters of football they could easily find themselves at 2-2 as the face a 49ers juggernaut on the road in yet another key game.
