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Orange Blooded [2890]
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For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 1:58 PM
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If been watching our highlights... esp. Shipley and trying to watch our OL blocking... I never played on the line and my eye usually follows the ball. What I noticed is blockers pushing with their hands and arms with no real focus on their foot placement and body position. They seldom manage to make forceful contact. In rugby players on all sides of the ball are taught what's called a "power step" and it maximizes your force of contact and applies it at the most effective point on your opponent. FWIW, DJU would be a monster if he knew how to use his size to use this in contact. Is this not a football thing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mE_XcLJ22Y
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All-TigerNet [10782]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 2:02 PM
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thanks for the insight.
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Orange Blooded [2459]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 2:21 PM
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Modern zone blocking technique is more about short measured steps to maintain balance and contact with the defensive player you're engaged with to allow lanes for the running back to find and run through. Long driving steps lead to off balance base that is more easily shed by defender or actually moved into the running lanes - zone blocking is about stretching vertical and horizontal lanes vs old school drive blocking to create gaps within the immediate LOS.
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110%er [5021]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 3:18 PM
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Most accurate answer you’ll find right here…
And no…DJ is not a runner…DJ is a pro-style QB playing in an RPO style offense…
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Orange Blooded [2890]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 4:17 PM
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Every single game, the announcers will at some point mention DJ's running ability, as if being large is all it takes. He is clearly uncomfortable running and it looks to me as if no one has been able to coach him to go into contact with a strong body position. I say "not able to" no knowing if they've tried and he hasn't grasped the concept, or that they, like the announcers, think the being big is all he needs. He did, in the last 3 games, seem to be using his bigness more effectively. Logan Thomas certainly was tall, wasn't he.
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All-In [26326]
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Hall of Famer [22281]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 6:38 PM
[ in reply to Re: For you Xs and Os guys... ] |
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Thanks for this answer. I know very little about zone blocking. It is a different philosophy than traditional blocking. (When Jimbo came to FSU he brought his OL coach, Rick Trickett with him. Trickett was a huge believer in zone blocking, so Jimbo was as well. Me and most of my friends who were far more knowledgable than I hated it. The biggest problem was we couldn't run when we needed to, especially against good teams. 3rd and two was a pass play because there was no way we would make 2 yards running between the tackles. Dalvin Cook spent his entire career where first defensive contact was made behind the line of scrimmage.)
One guy tried to explain it to me this way.
1. Traditional blocking is nothing more or less than moving your opponent from point A to point B against his will.
2. Zone blocking is letting your opponent tell you which direction he wants to go and then pushing him that way.
Like I said, very simplistic explanation of the basic difference between the two.
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110%er [5016]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 3:41 PM
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We've been using zone blocking for quite a while. I call it "patty cake" blocking. It can be effective for cut-back runners to find gaps and go through the gap against the line flow, which can be extremely effective particularly if the LBs flow the same direction as the O-linemen. The idea is for the O-linemen to punch the defender in the chest, then grab the jersey in front of the shoulder pads and with short steps, turn the defender in the direction that the play dictates. Once the defender is turned, the O-lineman has leverage and pushes harder to move the defender who is now likely somewhat off-balance. The RB can cut right up against his blocker if there's a gap.
Like most old guys, I grew up in the days of drive-blocking and as a TE was taught to put my guy on the ground, run over him and get to the next level to block the LB or DB. I prefer that type of blocking and was fairly good at it, but only because I used techniques that are illegal today... high/low, leg whips, crack backs, etc. The main one I used that is still legal is the cut block..... but that was in a single-wing offense.
Today's rules are such that old-fashioned blocking is considered dangerous and from a safety and penalty-avoidance perspective, zone blocking is favored - and no question that zone blocking used by cut-back RBs on misdirection plays can be explosive. You saw a lot of that this year from Shipley.
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All-In [48272]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 3:55 PM
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Thank you. Thanks for the question and the answers. Love a good x and o discussion.
I'll make the assumption we're sticking with this and assume that's why Austin is liking the kid in Alabama for a center. Is this an insight into his direction, speed and quickness? Sure seems to have been effective at GA State with the run.
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110%er [5016]
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Re: For you Xs and Os guys...
Jan 6, 2022, 4:37 PM
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direction, speed and quickness
I haven't seen tape on the player you're speaking of, but those are important considerations for today's O-linemen.
The main thing I think we've been lacking in our O-line blocking is strong driving power blocks by the TEs. We often use them from the H-back or 3-back position and motion or pull them into the designed hole as a lead blocker or FB. Too often, they don't use drive technique when our OG has a DT locked up at the point of attack and they miss the opportunity to really open the hole because they just aren't physical enough. They need to use speed and power to help the OG or OT move the defender. Also, I've noticed they sometimes don't seem to find their target when we run power off the OT.... they tend to get caught up in the wash too often. Again, speed and drive blocking power would be helpful in making those kick-out blocks. You have to get to your guy before he recognizes what the RB is trying to do and give the RB something to work behind.
I think it's perfectly OK to use zone blocking by the OTs, OGs and C, but I think the TEs should use more drive blocking - particularly on the plays inside the OTs.
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CU Medallion [65407]
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