Hardy Brown
Rookie
- Joined
- May 6, 2006
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I saw two-practices at minicamp and got fired-up! The Cardinals - on these days, at least - had four-running plays: the outside-zone, inside-zone, tackle-zone and a draw. These plays are designed, of course, to exploit the uncanny vision and running ability of Edgerrin James.
But it wasn't just the harmony of talent matching scheme that got me jacked, it was the plan, the purpose, the direction of it all. Like a Japanese Fighting-Fish, deadly and single-minded of purpose, the Cardinals were working to accomplish something they've been lacking for years: Identity.
You're either fish or foul: you either perfect a power blocking-scheme or a zone-scheme. This identity, this philosophy, affects everything you do as an offense - right down to the "type" of lineman you draft or sign to the roster. But it also affects the type of offense you employ.
Play-action is a HUGE cog in any zone-scheme worth a darn. Peyton Manning and the Colts, in a zone-scheme, have set-the-bar (dare I say destroyed-the-bar) in regard to play-action "technology," shredding the league as if it were paper-machet. Over 40% of passing plays run by the Colts were off play-action, leading the league in that category. Most of those plays came off of zone action.
A zone-scheme is the best play-action in the game of football. At minicamp, James lined up eight-yards deep in the backfield! It takes three to four-steps by the quarterback to reach the "mesh-point" on zone action and then, depending on the protection, another two or three-steps for the quarterback to set-up in his drop. This takes a lot of time and good protection up front.
When teams use zone-action, many teams, like the Colts, use "Max-protection," releasing only two-receivers into the pattern and keeping eight in protection. This, for the most part, affords the quarterback time to throw the ball.
The reason zone-action, especially the outside-zone, is such a lethal play-actor is simple: it takes so much time for the quarterback to reach the mesh-point with the running-back, the second-level (linebackers and walked up safeties) must honor the run-fake.When the second-level honors the run-fake, they cannot drop into coverage; and when they cannot drop into coverage, any receiver released in the pattern has time to get depth down the field (as much time as it takes the quarterback to reach the mesh-point). This cleans up "the look" for the Q, making his throw over the top of the scrambling second-level much easier.
Seeing the "big-picture" unfold at minicamp got me pumped, hungry for more! There is a plan here, there is purpose; there is identity...
But it wasn't just the harmony of talent matching scheme that got me jacked, it was the plan, the purpose, the direction of it all. Like a Japanese Fighting-Fish, deadly and single-minded of purpose, the Cardinals were working to accomplish something they've been lacking for years: Identity.
You're either fish or foul: you either perfect a power blocking-scheme or a zone-scheme. This identity, this philosophy, affects everything you do as an offense - right down to the "type" of lineman you draft or sign to the roster. But it also affects the type of offense you employ.
Play-action is a HUGE cog in any zone-scheme worth a darn. Peyton Manning and the Colts, in a zone-scheme, have set-the-bar (dare I say destroyed-the-bar) in regard to play-action "technology," shredding the league as if it were paper-machet. Over 40% of passing plays run by the Colts were off play-action, leading the league in that category. Most of those plays came off of zone action.
A zone-scheme is the best play-action in the game of football. At minicamp, James lined up eight-yards deep in the backfield! It takes three to four-steps by the quarterback to reach the "mesh-point" on zone action and then, depending on the protection, another two or three-steps for the quarterback to set-up in his drop. This takes a lot of time and good protection up front.
When teams use zone-action, many teams, like the Colts, use "Max-protection," releasing only two-receivers into the pattern and keeping eight in protection. This, for the most part, affords the quarterback time to throw the ball.
The reason zone-action, especially the outside-zone, is such a lethal play-actor is simple: it takes so much time for the quarterback to reach the mesh-point with the running-back, the second-level (linebackers and walked up safeties) must honor the run-fake.When the second-level honors the run-fake, they cannot drop into coverage; and when they cannot drop into coverage, any receiver released in the pattern has time to get depth down the field (as much time as it takes the quarterback to reach the mesh-point). This cleans up "the look" for the Q, making his throw over the top of the scrambling second-level much easier.
Seeing the "big-picture" unfold at minicamp got me pumped, hungry for more! There is a plan here, there is purpose; there is identity...
