Zone Blocking/Pass Protection

[FirstSgt]

Thanks for the great chat and my first post is:

For all the talk of what OLman is best for the zone blocking scheme, how does that affect pass protection? Does having a smaller, though athletic lineman compromise pass protection especially against bigger DLman?

[swede]

Excellent question, Sarge.

I have several guesses. The first is that technique is more valuable than bulk, and even our smallest guys are in the 290's anyway. My second guess is that part of the new offensive scheme will include a return to the more traditional WC offense: shorter patterns designed to get under coverage and putting a premium on YAC.

I'll be interested to hear what the truly smart football dudes have to say about this.

BTW. Welcome aboard!

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think it definitely can have problems pass protecting against bigger DL, but I think the coaches feel that it can be offset by the short passing game. A lot of quick drops. Helps offset blitz packages too. However, I'm worried that Favre will take a pounding if the passing game is not in synch, and he's not able to get the ball out quick.

[KYPack]

This topic is one of the biggest bones of contention in implementing the zone scheme. Obviously, you need quick, agile guys to get the run blocking accomplished. At the same time, the lineman need to be able to pick up the DLineman for their pass blocking assignments.

You've got to find guys who are hybreds, quick enough to zone block in either direction, strong enough to take on bull rushing DLineman in passing situation.

The process is two fold. You've got to recruit and draft quick strong guys who can physically do this double job. Then you have to relentlessly coach this bunch into a strong unit. With the Zone scheme, one guy who's consistently screwing up will scuttle the whole deal.

Last year's line, with the tangle-footed Klemm & the too green Whitticker would be a disaster. You must have all 5 guys acting as one. It takes time & it will be ugly until they get some cohesiveness.

If they don't get the group to gell as one? Ugh, it'll be ugly often.

[Sparkey]

With the Zone scheme, one guy who's consistently screwing up will scuttle the whole deal.

In fairness, I think every offensive blocking scheme relies on all 5 guys, plus the TE and RB too do their job and be on the same page, not just the ZONE scheme.

[Patler]

Denver wanted a QB who could throw while moving for a reason. Smaller O-lines generally (not always) are not as good in setting up stable pockets for the passing game. So you simply move your QB a little instead of just droppping straight back in the pocket.

Shouldn't be a big problem for Favre. He is good at throwing while moving to either side, and the Packers have traditionally used little roll-out type plays with him anyway. Some have argued over the years that Favre is much better throwing while moving than he is from a straight drop back.

[mraynrand]

"You must have all 5 guys acting as one. It takes time & it will be ugly until they get some cohesiveness. "


This sounds like a trailer line for a new movie starring Denzel Washington.

[Scott Campbell]

Some have argued over the years that Favre is much better throwing while moving than he is from a straight drop back.

That's because pure drop back passers have to have way better mechanics than Favre.

[Patler]

Some have argued over the years that Favre is much better throwing while moving than he is from a straight drop back.

That's because pure drop back passers have to have way better mechanics than Favre.

YUP! Most of his "risers" are thrown from a straight drop back, often when he has had good protection.

[Deputy Nutz]

Patler is right, the zone blocking linemen fall quickly to the bull rush by large defensive tackles. The pocket can collapse quickly, that is why teams that run the zone scheme rely on roll out pass plays, and get their QB out of the pocket as quickly as possible.

What defenses will do is send their outside backers on blitzes to the outside to contain the bootleg and to turn the QB back to the inside. Defenses will scout a team and determine if an opposing teams offense tends to roll their QB to the short side of the field or the strongside, and then they will blitz mostly from that side and force the offense to roll the QB out to the other side where they might not be as comfortable.

[Noodle]

The emphasis on being able to move would explain why 3M was impressed and pleased with A-Rod's athelticism. I never heard anyone care how athletic Sonny Jurgensen was, or Marino for that matter, but clearly in this system, if you can't move, you die.

I hope Favre goes back to some of that core strength work out he did last year. During his run as Hamlet, I didn't hear that he was working out at all. He's going to need to get some gas in tank. If he does, he could thrive under this system.

[MJZiggy]

I read that he was doing the core workout on his own and that he was going to be hiring a personal trainer this offseason to work on other stuff. The core stuff he did last year did help a lot with his elusiveness IMO.

[swede]

I read that he was doing the core workout on his own and that he was going to be hiring a personal trainer this offseason to work on other stuff. The core stuff he did last year did help a lot with his elusiveness IMO.

Seems like the media was able to catch him any time they wanted.

[wist43]

It all comes down to talent - regardless of size.

Scott Wells and Will Whitticker both got rag-dolled on a regular basis last year; Wells is what, 290 lbs??? and, Whitticker is 335 lbs???

If a player plays with good leverage, technique, and strength he can negate the charge of much larger players - but, he has to play with flawless technique... there's less margin for error that's for sure.

Pro Bowl Center, Mark Stepnoski played at 265-270.

Those comments aside, I don't really see the Packers line as being too small. Clifton, Tauscher, and Colledge are all over 300#'s, and Coston - who lined up as the starter in this past mini-camp - was listed at 313#'s in the paper this week.

Wells is very small, however... If Wells is going to be the starter, the Packers will probably have to give him help when he has Sean Rogers or Kevin Williams lined up on his nose.

If you have good players who understand leverage, I really don't see it as too much of a problem - my preference, however, would be for "road grader" type interior linemen.

[Joemailman]

Wist,

Wells is actually listed at 304. Chris White is listed at 285. You are right however, about giving him help against the bigger nose tackles. You simply cannot allow the nose tackle to get a lot of penetration up the middle.