Recent Comments

I think he's Canadian.

Beamer always had a soft spot for that knucklehead. Sad thing is he probably has a decent shot of getting some workouts as opposed to other players I would really support making an NFL team that might not get a call.

Why do you have UVA winning in your bracket? I'm disappointed in you.

Completely agree.

I have to believe that if UVA won zero games, Mike London would be fired, therefore the relationship cannot be calculated because one parameter (Mike London being the coach) is no longer true.

Well after todays news from Joe that might not be a bad thing.

we're still waiting for an official way to convey sarcasm..in the mean time I propose surrounding sarcastic statements with *'s

*UVa could surprise some folks in the ACC this year. I could see them getting into the post season*

Thanks! My basic description is that in a zone blocking scheme, blockers step laterally to a gap and engage the first defender that shows. Every blocker steps the same direction. The running back reads the blocks and makes a cut to empty space. Zone blocking works because there isn't a set hole, so running the same play with the same assignments could result in the run going right up the middle, off tackle, or outside of the tight end depending on what the defense does. As a blocker, you are taught to engage the defender and take them where they want to go. If every lineman gets a hat on hat and stays engaged, holes will open up. Linemen in this system have to be athletic enough to stay engaged with defenders laterally for an extended period of time and strong enough not to get blown up by a down lineman at the point of attack. They don't have to be great drive blockers. That is why in the NFL some teams draft/sign free agent linemen that are system effective. Recently the Texans and the Redskins have both drafted and signed offensive linemen that work well in a zone system but would not be strong players in a man blocking system (see Tyler Polumbo.)

Last season, VT struggled because their primary backs struggled early adjusting to making that read. Huge holes would open up, but the backs would cut back too quickly or not be assertive enough. I saw many plays that were well blocked, but the back only got a yard or two.

In man blocking, the running back runs to a pre-determined spot. Each blocker has an assigned man on a play or follows a blocking rule (example for me in my high school Wing-T days would be Gap, Down, Linebacker. This means, as the tackle on a buck sweep going to my outside, my first step will be to the inside gap with my inside foot. That cuts off any penetration from a blitzer coming through the gap. Then, my second step is into the gap and picking up the defensive tackle. If they don't have a defensive tackle, I stay on the same path and go to the linebacker.) On a man blocking play, linemen could be going all over the place. Some will be blocking down, some could be pulling. Others could be influence blocking (blocking in a direction away from where the ball is actually going to trick the linebacker keying off your block into going the wrong direction.)

Man blocking gave way to "option blocking" in the late 50's in the NFL. Option blocking really has nothing to do with the triple option. It means that the offensive line has pre-determined blocking rules, but when they come to the line of scrimmage each lineman identifies the defensive alignment and makes a call that changes the blocking to fit that defense. It requires a really bright group of blockers. On each play all five OL will make a line call. Four of the five are dummy calls. You need to know your assignment. You need to know which line call is the real call and you need to know how to adjust to the call. We used this system in college, and I can tell you it was a chore to learn.

Here is an example. Let's say we are running a toss sweep to the right from an I formation with the tight end on the right. As the tackle to the play side, I have to make a call on how we block with play. That will depend on the alignment of the defensive end. If the end is outside of me, I could try to reach him, but that is a tough block (especially since it is a quick hitting pitch.) Or, I can call a "Roll It" which Mason tells me is called a "Pin and Pull" these days. Basically, it means that the tight end would block down on the defensive end on my inside shoulder, and I would pull and lead up on the safety/OLB along with the fullback.

Inside plays have the same flexibility. If the alignment is conducive to a double team where on blocker has a good angle to slide off and take a linebacker at the second level, I would call a "combo" block. If I am having a tough time scooping someone on the back side, perhaps the guard and I can call a roll it with the guard blocking back and I pulling around him to lead up on a linebacker. The possibilities were numerous on every play depending on the defensive alignment.

This system was really challenging. Every time you went to the line, you had to know your assignment, which player had to make the option call, and hear that person over all 6 guys making dummy calls and the quarterback cadence. Here is a typical OL conversation.

POINT "Seven, four... four . six" from six different voices. One will be the alignment of the key defender on the play so if a guard is pulling to trap him from the other side of the line, said guard knows where his guy is lined up.

Me to the tight end "combo... combo, you high."

Guard to my inside "Peter! Peter" (meaning he forgot the snap count.) My response "diddle" (on one) "Nads" (on two). I can't remember the others (it was 15 years ago!!!)

Add the quarterback yelling and crowd noise.
)

I did it at a D3 school. Imagine doing that in Lane Stadium at night? It is really challenging.

I think that is a big reason why zone blocking has become popular. It is hard to explain why it works because we have all been taught that good blocking is driving a defender down field and the idea that moving laterally creates seems is a new concept (last 15 years.) But, it is much easier to tell a lineman that if the ball is going right, step to the gap to your right and hit the first guy who crosses your face and run them to the sidelines. I know that is an oversimplification, but the timing, aiming points, and zone blocking steps that are so critical all come from practicing fundamentals and muscle memory. Man blocking requires much more *thoughtfulness* in the film room and prior to the snap.

Here is a great tutorial: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/08/29/durkins-football-101-zone-man-blo...

What is the unofficial sarcastica policy?

What? I've been told that a big, athletic QB can seemlessly transition to an NFL caliber TE...

Because he wants to see what all the Buzz is about

I fat fingered you

I stumbled over this part of your post a few times