Overview
- Players said Friday that Mannion made outside-zone the offense’s stated foundation and that the staff has drilled tags, blocking combos and other run-game details.
- Offensive linemen and tight ends report growing mastery of the scheme and increasing responsibility for making line calls during practice.
- Mannion traces his run-game focus to early coaching work with the Green Bay Packers where he was charged with drawing run plays and studying blocking adjustments.
- Concerns persist because Mannion has a short coaching résumé and the preseason offense struggled, prompting the team to move play-calling to the coaches' box for upcoming game action.
- What to watch in Week 1 is whether the practice installation translates in games, how much Hurts will be used as a runner under more under-center looks, and whether the run scheme produces the play-action chances the passing game needs.