Football terminology question: Zone Blocking vs. Power Running scheme???

[Lomax to Green 84]

I'd like a detailed explanation of what constitutes a "power running game". I am pretty clear on the zone blocking scheme issue, but clarification on that would be nice as well.

I keep hearing that we play a zone blocking scheme and traditionally teams with success using that scheme have smaller, quicker offensive linemen while teams running a power running scheme use bigger linemen.

We have the 2nd largest offensive line in football and yet we run a zone blocking scheme geared for smaller linemen? I'm a simpleton, but this sounds assbackwards.

My understanding of zone blocking is alot of cutblocking ala the Broncos and Falcons. Is that correct? My understanding of power running is what the Steelers run (big straight ahead, man on man blocking). Is that correct?

I'd really appreciate some input on this. Thanks.

 

[DeAnna]

Russ....you can have this one.

 

[Russ Smith]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/columns/davie/1440703.html


The pics won't post so I figured the link would be easier. Pretty good explanation from Bob Davie of what zone blocking is.

Doesn't address the power running part of your question.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Basically, zone blocking is having your OLinemen run out and block areas. It is up to the RB to find the naturally occuring holes that will happen in this. Lots of pulling and cut blocking...that's why they need to be quicker.

I'd simplify it down and go to a man scheme. Just have our OLine mash open a hole and hope Edge can do something with it.

 

[vince56]

Just have our OLine mash open a hole...

That's easier said than done with these clowns.

 

[D-Dogg]

That's easier said than done with these clowns.

I don't know...if they were just asked to line up and hit the guy in front of them, I think they'd be adequate at it. However, with pulling and trying to be nimble, these guys look like oafs.

 

[BACH]

We do use a variety of the zone-blocking scheme, BUT not the same as Falcons or Broncos.

The "purest" zone-blocking scheme in the league is used by the Falcons, while the "purest" power-blocking is used by the Steelers.

Every other team in the league use something in between.

The main difference (very, very simple explanation) between the two schemes is how the uncovered man is used. In a power scheme, the uncovered man leaves his teammates one-on-one with with the DL and releases directly on the LBs, while a zone-blocking scheme tries to move the entire OL as a unit - keeping the uncovered man next to the covered men. It then varies within the different zone-blocking schemes exactly how long time the OL stays together. The Colts (and somewhat the Broncos, just with backside cutting) keep their OL together for the entire play, while the Falcons establish a quick double-team on the line to gain control over their D-Lineman, driving him in one direction, then releasing the backside player in the doubleteam to LB level.

Our scheme is most similar to what the Chiefs run. We pull the uncovered man to outnumber the opponents in the hole (power), while everyone not pulling on the backside and sealing the edge use a zone blocking scheme where everyone is downblocking to the backside. So a combination of the two. It's still a zone-blocking scheme, BUT not the same zone-blocking scheme as the Falcons

 

[Russ Smith]

Bach do you think the reason we see so many Cardinal RB's nailed from the backside by an unblocked DL or LB is because of the zone blocking scheme we run or that we're just not suited to do it or don't do it well?

Last year everyone thought it was Shipp was too slow or JJ too scared, this year now people are calling Edge slow but it really seems to me that for some reason we are letting DT's or LB's coming INSIDE, go unblocked and chase the play from the backside. When you watch say denver or Atlanta that unblocked guy is the backside DE or OLB or safety and he's got a LOT further to go to get to the RB.

Just seems to me like the 2 most common problems we have is DT's blowing up right at the snap and penetrating up the middle, or DT's or MLB's just shooting the gap and grabbing the RB from the backside.

 

[hailgunther]

Its kinda like the difference between Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. Priest ran well with a zone blocking scheme. BUt Larry just charges

 

[CardLogic]

Here is the key sentence in Bob Davie's treatise on zone blocking: "The offensive line can't allow penetration."

 

[az1965]

I keep hearing that we play a zone blocking scheme

I thought we play a NO blocking scheme...???

 

[BACH]

Bach do you think the reason we see so many Cardinal RB's nailed from the backside by an unblocked DL or LB is because of the zone blocking scheme we run or that we're just not suited to do it or don't do it well?

Last year everyone thought it was Shipp was too slow or JJ too scared, this year now people are calling Edge slow but it really seems to me that for some reason we are letting DT's or LB's coming INSIDE, go unblocked and chase the play from the backside. When you watch say denver or Atlanta that unblocked guy is the backside DE or OLB or safety and he's got a LOT further to go to get to the RB.

Just seems to me like the 2 most common problems we have is DT's blowing up right at the snap and penetrating up the middle, or DT's or MLB's just shooting the gap and grabbing the RB from the backside.

It's impossible for us to conclude anything, because we don't know the line calls.

But I agree with you that it seems to be our problem

There's currently one block that we do very well and that's the seal block on the end of the line. Big, Ross and the TEs seal very well (on the outside zone/stretch, that we run about 60% of the plays). Big and Ross also look good in space when running to their side, but they both look bad coming over the middle from the backside.
Wells looks good in space, but gets overpowered one-on-one.
Step is terrible on pulls and on the line, but is decent when releasing on the LBs. When Edge gets hit from the backside on the stretch, I noticed that it's usually from the backside DT, which in most cases is Step's responsibility.
Brown is hard evaluate. It looks like he does the job, but not anything more than that. He doesn't look great in space, but is usually able to get a decent (but not good) block on his guy.

Our TEs look good upfield,but terrible on the outside.

So basicly, it's a mess, because there isn't one thing that everyone on the OL is able to do well. But as I stated before, I believe the biggest problem right now is Step's terrible play and Wells being overpowered on the line.

Another observation. Nothing new really, but it's too easy to read our running plays. Our best consistent running play is without a doubt the draw play. If I was the OC, I would use more play-action and draws to keep the defense guessing.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Zone blocking was created to handle moving defensive linemen. It is a simple concept, but it takes a lot of practice because it involves offensive linemen working in unison and decisions have to be made while the play is taking place. In zone blocking, you don't have a lot of different assignments, but you have a lot of techniques. It takes many repetitions to get the feel of working together as a unit

Thats the main problem right there IMO .. they are not reacting during the play they are trying to think and in that split second the defense overpowers them .. this system is a lot more complicated than I thought after reading this article ..

Too much thinking and not enough blocking ...

 

[JeffGollin]

Thanks. That Zone Blocking article by Davies was worth printing out for additional study.

On first glance, 2 things jumped out at me -

1. Everything seemed to be predicated on the LB's and DB's being stationary and in predictable spots on the field.

2. The importance of our linemen standing hip to hip.

Teams that shoot backers or DB's seem to blow up most of our running plays. This is particularly noticeable when the heat is brought between LT and LG or LG and C. Is this because (a) no one is accounting for the shooting backer or DB? (b) our T, G and C aren't standing "hip to hip or (c) both of the above? What needs to be done to stop this from happening?

 

[BACH]

Thanks. That Zone Blocking article by Davies was worth printing out for additional study.

On first glance, 2 things jumped out at me -

1. Everything seemed to be predicated on the LB's and DB's being stationary and in predictable spots on the field.

2. The importance of our linemen standing hip to hip.

Teams that shoot backers or DB's seem to blow up most of our running plays. This is particularly noticeable when the heat is brought between LT and LG or LG and C. Is this because (a) no one is accounting for the shooting backer or DB? (b) our T, G and C aren't standing "hip to hip or (c) both of the above? What needs to be done to stop this from happening?

1. If the RB runs in the correct hole, then the LBs most likely will be in a predictable spot.

2. Both Big and Ross weakest point IMO is picking up the LBs from the backside. When running to one side the opposite OT takes a 45 degree angle to the playside to create traffic and to hit everything on his way. Both Big and Ross struggle doing this against the speedy LBs. That's part of the problem, but a minor part.
The biggest problem is Step and/or his line calls. On the outside runs the hardest block is the one the backside G has to make on the DT. The backside G he never gets any help from the Step and the result shows, because the LBs are coming over that G every time. If they made a double-team on the DT, then the C would take over that block when the G has to pick up the blitzing LB.
A couple of times on the inside runs in the Falcons game Step was one-on-one with Grady Jackson with Brown being uncovered. Step had been overmatched on every snap, but Step didn't call the doubleteam and Brown released directly to LB level, while Jackson was 4 yards in the backfield.

It's hard to say if that's by design or Step blowing the calls, but I have to guess on the latter. In every single blocking scheme the rule is, that you can't release to LB level before the block on the line is under control (One good block is better than two bad blocks-rule).