Zone blocking?

[rgw]

There is also a big difference between zone pass block and zone run block. Zone pass block is typical for sprint out plays where you simply desire to pass block to the play side. Zone run blocking is really a double team block where the tandem plays the direction the defender they're assigned rushes. Inside goes to the second level when he goes outside, vice versa when he rushes inside the double.

 

[runtheoption22]

Connelly taught the "bucket step" where the OLs first move was backward, hence the nickname "bucket step Bob". He also believed no team 'bull rushed'. Anyone remember the 12 sack game?

The zone blocking scheme is a good one, if done properly. Just ask Nebraska circa the 1990s.

 

[Alakablamo]

There are many things I despise about Bob Connelly and his time at Alabama, but his biggest failure was his apathy toward S&C. Shula left it up to his assistant coaches to ensure that the players got what they needed out of the S&C program... which is why our DB's and LB's were apparently the strongest players on the team during the Shula years.

Remember how out of shape Darby was during certain parts of the season? I know he had other things going on outside of football but it was pathetic how out of shape our team was.

 

[BigCountry]

I googled zone blocking and randomly picked two to three links that were articles or "writings" about zone blocking vs man blocking. It was mentioned that nfl teams who use a pure zone blocking technique get smaller and more agile players because bigger players tend to be to slow and not as agile. So, I don't know. We'll see.

This is for the most part true about zone linemen. However, I think that correlates to the bigger, slower linemen that zone coaches don't want that are not SEC caliber linemen. I think they shy away from big buffet busters that just plug holes and can't move. There are plenty of cornbread fed big lineman that can flat move in the SEC. We will be fine.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Smaller more agile linemen in the NFL are 310/315. It's a learned skill. Bob believed one scheme fits all,,,,, and he was wrong.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

I've been calling for a return to the zone scheme Pendry ran during the NC year. For whatever reason, perhaps bigger OL, we went primarily to a gap/man scheme last year. It led to less dominance IMHO. I like the zone scheme's ability to create double teams on nearly every DL, it also handles twist and stunts very well, it can be very physical.

I believe Connley taught the "bucket step" technique, hence the nick name "bucket step Bob". He also has been quoted on this forum as stating that "nobody bull rushes anymore" which is pure crap.

Part of the issues Bama dealt with last year was the inability to keep a healthy, cohesive unit on the field all year long. Regardless of what techniques you teach, nothing develops an offensive line better than having that unit practice and play together week in and week out.

The gap/man approach used last year was something of a playbook simplification that coaches employ when dealing with a less capable or less cohesive unit. I believe you saw exactly that in the Senior Bowl last January. Your linemen don't get to the next level as often and create big plays, but if done conservatively enough it's good enough to move the ball.

Again, it goes back to the quality of play, conditioning, the cohesiveness of the unit and repetition. Ol' Bucket Step Bob was working with a Patsy 10 system that was never going to work in this league. But he also had issues regarding conditioning and the quality of the athletes up and down the line. It was a recipe for disaster, and the "jumbo package" was about as clear of an indication of OL deficiency as you'd ever want to see.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I agree GCT,

How a OL works as a unit is very important. When an OL hasn't been playing together long enough to gel they have to "think too much" which causes hesitation. Hesitation in the SEC means you lose, game over, next.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Connelly taught the "bucket step" where the OLs first move was backward, hence the nickname "bucket step Bob". He also believed no team 'bull rushed'. Anyone remember the 12 sack game?

Ole Bucket Step himself...man am I glad those days are a distant memory. If there is one thing that I am not worried about these days it would be coaching. Whatever technique is being taught has the blessings of the big boss and he can keep on doing what he is doing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[graydogg85]

Concerning "Bucket Step Bob", it bears mentioning that he was hired by Mike Price to employ a technique that was ideally suited to Price's offense. If anyone has ever scanned the old Mike Price one-back spread playbook, you'll notice that there are very few running plays featured and most of them are draws. The bucket-step technique is a good technique for a draw play, as your offensive linemen would be falling back anyway to give the impression that you're passing. For all the frustration Bob and his technique brought about, I place more blame on Mike Shula. Why on Earth would you employ a playbook filled with conventional pro-style running plays (power, iso, counter, etc.) and then allow your OL coach to teach only one technique that really only works for draw plays? Bob was ignorant and mule-headed to be sure, but that's another illustration of Shula's mind-numbing incompetence. Anyway, that's the end of my rant on that topic.

As far as Bama employing zone blocking schemes, as others have noted we've used quite a bit of zone blocking since Nick Saban arrived in 2007. At Miami, Stoutland's lines used a heavy dose of zone blocking. So no great surprise here. I for one think it's a good thing. We used a lot of zone blocking in 2009 but moved away from it a bit last season and I think the run game suffered as a result. As others have said, we had a bit more bulk and a bit less agility last year, so I'm sure that we were simply trying to cater to the talent available. But I'd certainly like to see more of it this season, so this is good news.

 

[JDCrimson]

I get angry just remembering those days... How you could not fire that guy after the Auburn game really shows you have no leadership qualities whatsoever. It got so bad during the game the defense was begging to go in on offense to block those guys.

I would have had the moving truck sitting in front of his house when he got back from the game.

 

[RIP Jumbo Pkg]

Part of the issues Bama dealt with last year was the inability to keep a healthy, cohesive unit on the field all year long. Regardless of what techniques you teach, nothing develops an offensive line better than having that unit practice and play together week in and week out.

These are both great points. In the zone scheme the OL often find themselves working hip to hip on a DL, keeping four hands on him and four eyes on the LB, then feeling the angle of the DL to decide who slides to the second level LB. This requires repetition, and is a learned skill no matter the natural ability of the lineman. Although blocking technique and assignments remain consistant for all five positions (your either covered or uncovered and work accordingly) hence Pendry's "plug in the best 5 OL" rotation strategy, the importance of familiarity of an lineman with his teammates to either side of him can't be overstated. I think the best display of this principle was the Utah Sugar Bowl. Coffee blew up that year behind the zone scheme. However, Andre is suspended, reshuffling the lineup. Then I believe it was Johnson that went down. The result was that we just couldn't impose our will like earlier in the year. Not to mention pass blocking.

Regarding the "agile lineman" being needed to zone, I think that line of thinking is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Even Wisconsin has gotten in on the zone craze as part of their scheme, and we all know about how big their guys are. I think if it is repped in practice constantly that Fluker would be more than capable of zoning up. I recall in the A-day game last year a man scheme was run and Fluker completely whiffed on his block. Sometimes having that big lineman try to down block to the second level, or reach an LB is an athletic mismatch, resulting in the OL blocking air. At least in zone he gets his hands on someone, not to mention that the simplified rules SHOULD result in less confusion as to who to block. Thats the thing about zone, according to Alex Gibbs...It has to be your entire system. Don't try to teach multiple blocking schemes, just zone it and rep the heck out of it.

God I love the foosball!

 

[4loveofbama]

Pretty much Our run game has been inside zone, outside zone, and power since McElwain has been there. THere are many variations to each scheme that can be checked to pre snap by the OL with all the multiple looks Defenses can employ these days. Most teams simplify there run game so that can work on the myriads of pressure packages that abound in the game today.