2. Rocky Top Talk analyzes zone running. Pretty good breakdown, and on the whole very informative. A few minor points though. First, the article seems to confuse the outside-zone and the inside-zone (it professes to talk about the "inside zone" but then talks about the "stretch sweep"); the two are different plays, with the "stretch" being the same as the outside zone and the inside zone going by a lot of names, from "belly" to just "zone."
Second, the article discusses the need to cutback the run but, based on the above diagram, the blocking is drawn up against the 3-4 defense, and the offense has a numbers advantage to the tight-end side. So I would want the runner to keep it to that side; otherwise he'd be possibly cutting back into a pursuing unblocked defender. Finally, the article mentions that zone blocking wants nimble, quick, smaller lineman. This is true sometimes, but other times not so: the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s with Emmitt Smith used zone blocking almost exclusively and had the largest offensive linemen in the NFL. But that is a matter of taste.
Anyway, all these are minor points. Check it out.
3. Speaking of the zone and zone-read, Trojan Football Analysis breaks down a video then-Utah-and-former-Florida-and-now-Miss. St.-head coach explaining the inside zone and zone-read, including game film. This one is a definite to check out for purists (read the Rocky Top Talk post then check out the one from TFA):
I'm working on a post about sort of "advanced zone-read" stuff, considering all the games defenses now play and the offense's responses, but for now this stuff can be your teaser.
4. Get the Picture on the BCS anti-trust morass and grandstanding.
5. WSJ Daily Fix on better basketball stats. And, speaking of basketball (and completely unrelated to football), I stumbled on this clip of Kobe Bryant spinning Vincent Yarbrough around:
Ouch.
I'm pretty sure that's Vincent Yarbrough.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Fixed. Clip was grainy.
ReplyDeleteFinally, the article mentions that zone blocking wants nimble, quick, smaller lineman. This is true sometimes, but other times not so: the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s with Emmitt Smith used zone blocking almost exclusively and had the largest offensive linemen in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteSince not having too much experience with coordinating an offense this is the point where I have struggled many-a-time. Personally I am a big believer in zone blocking, but every time I've been faced with a new group of linemen (who for some reason are fanatically drilled in man blocking) I haven't really been able to sell the idea of zone blocking to them.
Some say it's better for smaller linemen because you can create double teams at the P.O.A., some say it's more suitable for bigger linemen who can really push the DL into the LB's. What argument shall I use, since my groups are always different?
Zone bloicking turns into man rules when someone lines up over you. Sell it that way. You're still going to learn techniques to defeat what you face no matter what it is called.
ReplyDeleteThe bad spread team played a lot last year- Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteFinal note, the wiki reference to Ray Lucas notes that Bill parcells used him as a RB in a game and lined up his backup QB @ wr for the Lucas run of 15 yards vs. the Vikings.
ReplyDeleteBill Parcells used the Wild Jet offense in the 90's!
Jet sweep? Rocket or laser? Series football was a step away?
Defensiv Koordinatior: Use a little realpolitks: tell the small guys that zone blocking is better for them, and tell the big guys that zone blocking works best with the big boys.
ReplyDelete