Something that needs to be clarified about the ZBS is that it is a RUNNING scheme ONLY! The only time the ZBS is used in passing plays is on play-action and bootleg/rollouts.
With that said and out of the way (I hope) the downside to running a ZBS is in pass protection as the O-linemen are usually smaller and are in defensive mode. To counter this weakness there are several options which the coaching staff has FAILED at.
#1- Have an aggressive mentality in the trenches to establish the run. Through the 90s SUPERBOWL runS the Broncos ran the ball down your throat without an O-lineman even weighing 300lbs. This is obviously easier said than done but Phailbins O-line had no aggressive/feisty bastards and Campbell is TRYING to undo Phailbins soft mentality and establish the run first to open the pass instead of vise versa. YES, you can blast, destroy and impose your will on the opposing side of the ball in a ZBS.
#2- "One way to compensate for the lack of beef in the front five is to increase the number of defenders by reserving tight ends and running backs for pass-blocking. The additional blockers can provide double-teams, pick up blitzers, or act as a second level of defense for rushers who break through, but at a cost of the number of available pass targets. A very effective compromise is to have the tight ends and running backs 'chip' block – hit a defender with a shoulder on the way out to a pass pattern. This slows down the rush while still letting the player be a pass target."
The CHIP block and push off block in the RZ and on 3rd downs by the TE and RB is non existent on this team. HELLO!!!!!!!! The TE is the RZ machine when passing there!!!!!
"To really help the passing game, the use of tight ends and running backs as pass targets tends to increase in zone blocking offenses. Not only do these players lend blocking support, the defense is forced to account for them in pass patterns, thereby reducing the number of players available for the pass rush and buying the quarterback more time. This is the driving principle behind the substantial use of fullbacks and tight ends as passing targets."
The FB!!!!! Yeah, that position that is being phased out is a VERY important peice missing from this O and the NFL as a whole.
"Fullbacks and halfbacks become particularly valuable in the passing game. Once established as a legitimate target, the defense is forced to count them among the targets and reserve pass defenders to cover their routes. If the running backs are then held as pure pass blockers (and not sent into receiving routes), the defense is suddenly wasting a defender on a vacated route and the offense gains a numerical advantage in the passing game. This buys time, which can then be used to allow deeper passing routes and stretch the field."
HELLO!!!!!
#3- The bootlegs/rollouts are the one thing that ELITE and RT can one day be in the same sentence in as RTs BEST ability is to throw on the run. RT has VERY poor pocket presence and the coaches have FAILED to get him on the move and move the pocket for him to make BIG BOY throws and a chance to extend plays. IMO this is the BIGGEST F'up "Lazor", Phailbin and Co. has made. This also sets up the option for RT to run the ball forcing defenders to now acount for the QB. Campbell has started using this though not enough.
#4- Since Campbell has taken over since I started this topic he actually knows the problems and is at least trying to fix it. The firing of "Lazor"(I am going to miss doing that) had to happen because of the lack of commitment to running the ball. When you use a ZBS the main objective is to RUN the ball FIRST and COUNTER with the passing game. The complete opposite of Phailbin and "Lazor" who didn't play to our running strengths that we are actually good at. A complete philosophical FAILURE!
Got some things from here: http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2009/8/2...game-in-a-zone
With that said and out of the way (I hope) the downside to running a ZBS is in pass protection as the O-linemen are usually smaller and are in defensive mode. To counter this weakness there are several options which the coaching staff has FAILED at.
#1- Have an aggressive mentality in the trenches to establish the run. Through the 90s SUPERBOWL runS the Broncos ran the ball down your throat without an O-lineman even weighing 300lbs. This is obviously easier said than done but Phailbins O-line had no aggressive/feisty bastards and Campbell is TRYING to undo Phailbins soft mentality and establish the run first to open the pass instead of vise versa. YES, you can blast, destroy and impose your will on the opposing side of the ball in a ZBS.
#2- "One way to compensate for the lack of beef in the front five is to increase the number of defenders by reserving tight ends and running backs for pass-blocking. The additional blockers can provide double-teams, pick up blitzers, or act as a second level of defense for rushers who break through, but at a cost of the number of available pass targets. A very effective compromise is to have the tight ends and running backs 'chip' block – hit a defender with a shoulder on the way out to a pass pattern. This slows down the rush while still letting the player be a pass target."
The CHIP block and push off block in the RZ and on 3rd downs by the TE and RB is non existent on this team. HELLO!!!!!!!! The TE is the RZ machine when passing there!!!!!
"To really help the passing game, the use of tight ends and running backs as pass targets tends to increase in zone blocking offenses. Not only do these players lend blocking support, the defense is forced to account for them in pass patterns, thereby reducing the number of players available for the pass rush and buying the quarterback more time. This is the driving principle behind the substantial use of fullbacks and tight ends as passing targets."
The FB!!!!! Yeah, that position that is being phased out is a VERY important peice missing from this O and the NFL as a whole.
"Fullbacks and halfbacks become particularly valuable in the passing game. Once established as a legitimate target, the defense is forced to count them among the targets and reserve pass defenders to cover their routes. If the running backs are then held as pure pass blockers (and not sent into receiving routes), the defense is suddenly wasting a defender on a vacated route and the offense gains a numerical advantage in the passing game. This buys time, which can then be used to allow deeper passing routes and stretch the field."
HELLO!!!!!
#3- The bootlegs/rollouts are the one thing that ELITE and RT can one day be in the same sentence in as RTs BEST ability is to throw on the run. RT has VERY poor pocket presence and the coaches have FAILED to get him on the move and move the pocket for him to make BIG BOY throws and a chance to extend plays. IMO this is the BIGGEST F'up "Lazor", Phailbin and Co. has made. This also sets up the option for RT to run the ball forcing defenders to now acount for the QB. Campbell has started using this though not enough.
#4- Since Campbell has taken over since I started this topic he actually knows the problems and is at least trying to fix it. The firing of "Lazor"(I am going to miss doing that) had to happen because of the lack of commitment to running the ball. When you use a ZBS the main objective is to RUN the ball FIRST and COUNTER with the passing game. The complete opposite of Phailbin and "Lazor" who didn't play to our running strengths that we are actually good at. A complete philosophical FAILURE!
Got some things from here: http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2009/8/2...game-in-a-zone
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