Are the Days of Zone-Blocking all but over ?

[Arky]

Just Richie being Richie....

Originally Posted by Keith

Just as the team had questionable linebacking until it drafted DeMeco and Cushing, I think it is tough to assume improvement will occur without an influx of talent on the interior OL this offseason.

Yeah, that's what I think, too. Seemed like they had 3 Morlon Greenwoods in the middle OL at times. Caldwell still has upside and perhaps Studdard has more.... I'm all for using #20 on Iupati and then using the next two picks for defense...

[Warren]

Zone blocking worked when defensive tackles were big fat guys and linebackers didn't run like safeties. In a bigger, faster, more aggressive NFL, zone blocking may be as meaningful as a Brett Favre retirement

That's just wrong. Zone blocking was designed specifically to counter increased movement and stunting by defenses. In a ZBS each blocker is responsible for a particular zone, rather than a particular defender, so the blockers don't have to worry about what to do if their guy does something like shift before the snap, twist, or drop into coverage – the OL have their progression to work through. And unless you’ve got the athletes on the OL to handle these bigger, faster defenders straight up, you’re going to need to use leverage and technique to do it… like with a ZBS.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Warren

That's just wrong. Zone blocking was designed specifically to counter increased movement and stunting by defenses.

"I'm not going to miss our little weekly chats since we never had one. For some reason, he didn't find my wit and charm to be his cup of tea."

This is the REAL reason for the article. Remember the media likes to have access. When Justice didn't get anything juicy to write about, he turned sour. Justice isn't about to let "FACTS" get in the way of a good story.

This team could do more with more talent. Personally, I like seeing an athletic OL pull around and block a DB for a huge gain every now and then. We shall see what the OL looks like next season. Will Chester be back healthy? That is a huge question in my estimation. If not, we should draft an OL in the first round (Iupati, Trent Williams, Russell Okung) or take one in the 2nd round if we go DB in the first.

The offense needs to be more consistent with the running game. Short yardage and closing out games requires a good OL. Probably more important than a "feature" RB in my opinion. The only good RB I know of who played behind a crappy OL was Barry Sanders.

[dadmg]

Originally Posted by Roy P

"I'm not going to miss our little weekly chats since we never had one. For some reason, he didn't find my wit and charm to be his cup of tea."

This is the REAL reason for the article. Remember the media likes to have access. When Justice didn't get anything juicy to write about, he turned sour. Justice isn't about to let "FACTS" get in the way of a good story.

And we have a winner.

[cland]

Yep that was me nero THE zero (on both boards.) Again if you really wanted to destroy this team's offensive mojo, trying to play a Power Blocking system with Studdard, Myers, and White would surely have done it. Better talent in the middle=better results in the run game.

The other piece is that the ZBS has an effect on the passing game as well. Setting up your OL's in a zone wall, and picking up players if they are in the gaps is very similar to pass-blocking technique, and allows you to hide (if only for a moment) whether the starting steps of the OLmen mean they are in pass-protection of run-blocking. The amazing thing about this season is that despite our inability to run, we gave up a small number of sacks, and led the league in passing.


On a side note:

I really wish there was a Free Agency for beat reporters. We might have to sweeten the deal by adding Anna Megan, or maybe Bob can cover part of his salary but we've got to get Richard 'the media cancer' Justice off the roster.

I mean read this article. It's like an angry 12 year old wrote it. Allow me to translate:

Gibbs didn't like to talk to me, so he's clearly bad at his job. If we increase our ranking from #30 rushing in the league, that seals it. Gibbs runs a bad system. Of course Rick Dennison is the Man!!! (buttering him up so he'll talk to me.) He's going to bring in this crazy new system and really fix things (I clearly don't understand that Rick coaches the exact same style as Gibbs.) Also the Texans should have made the playoffs (disagree with that you silly readers, clearly ending on this point makes all my nonsense accurate.)

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by cland

Yep that was me nunusguy (on both boards.)

Eh hem.

[cland]

I was misquoted!