Commanders Blocking Scheme

[mahoneybill]

Any insights as to why they are effective ?

They seem to be able to move their opponent sideways, and never get
called for holding while doing it...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, Shannahan has historically had one of the very best Zone Blocking Schemes in Football. The problem is that it is hard to determine what you call moving the Defense "sideways by holding" and "Sliding" which is what you call the technique employed by a zone blocking scheme.

In that scheme, you look for OLs who have very good feet, very good mobility and have the ability to implement Reach Block techniques. This is known as sliding. The idea is to create space by creating movement in the front seven and disrupt gap responsibility. This is why cutback runners do so well in this kind of scheme. This scheme is also famous for cut blocks. I don't love this scheme and I think it's dangerous but it's legal and very effective.

 

[CATCH17]

Any insights as to why they are effective ?

They seem to be able to move their opponent sideways, and never get
called for holding while doing it...

As a defender you don't want an Olinemen to beat you to the outside and get you blocked.

In a zone blocking scheme the defender can't make the right play. If he stays outside then the runner will try to cut under him. If he goes inside then the runner will try to stay outside.


Demarco Murray is excellent in a zone scheme. It fits his strength as a runner. Hopefully our coaches will start playing him to his strengths.

 

[mahoneybill]

Well, Shannahan has historically had one of the very best Zone Blocking Schemes in Football. The problem is that it is hard to determine what you call moving the Defense "sideways by holding" and "Sliding" which is what you call the technique employed by a zone blocking scheme.

In that scheme, you look for OLs who have very good feet, very good mobility and have the ability to implement Reach Block techniques. This is known as sliding. The idea is to create space by creating movement in the front seven and disrupt gap responsibility. This is why cutback runners do so well in this kind of scheme. This scheme is also famous for cut blocks. I don't love this scheme and I think it's dangerous but it's legal and very effective.

Thanks very comprehensive answer , especially the sliding part and reach
blocking.

 

[mahoneybill]

As a defender you don't want an Olinemen to beat you to the outside and get you blocked.

In a zone blocking scheme the defender can't make the right play. If he stays outside then the runner will try to cut under him. If he goes inside then the runner will try to stay outside.


Demarco Murray is excellent in a zone scheme. It fits his strength as a runner. Hopefully out coaches will start playing him to his strengths.

Murray does seem to have that quick cut back ability. The more we can mix
up our attack the better.

Appreciate the insight on dilemma for defender.

Seems to me the skins will use this going forward, and I'm trying to understand it better not having watched many Shanahan coached teams closely before

 

[mahoneybill]

Excellent article I received from another source on this topic , illustrates zone scheme and also talks about man scheme

http://assets.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/davie/1440703.html

 

[superpunk]

It's what Shanahan does.

He came in from day 1 and said this is the plan, and went about building it. It took three years to get the right players in place but it's done and they'll be one of the better running teams in the league while he's there. Zone blocking is easy and unique and you can get away with not having blue chippers to do it. Just get on your man's hip and ride him to the sideline.

OTOH, Jason Garrett has been here for six years running the offense. We've screwed around with the offensive line, invested resources in it before deciding in year 5 that we're bringing in Callahan, swapping our tackles and running some zone blocking ourselves.

One coaching staff had a vision, and focused on implementing that vision.

The other chases it's tail in futility. I can't wait to see what next year's "Hey what if we tried this?" idea is.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

does houston use the same kind of blocking scheme? foster always has clean holes and alley ways to run through. Also kind of an off topic question but is Foster a "good" RB? or is he just a product of a good Oline like Alfred Morris ?

 

[Doomsday101]

does houston use the same kind of blocking scheme? foster always has clean holes and alley ways to run through. Also kind of an off topic question but is Foster a "good" RB? or is he just a product of a good Oline like Alfred Morris ?

Yes pretty much the same type of zone blocking used when Kubaik was in Denver.

I think Foster and Morris are both good RB, they run with power and have decent speed. You will seldom see them go down with an arm tackle.

I think the system is a big help to both RB but I also think they are quality players in their own right.

 

[mahoneybill]

Yes pretty much the same type of zone blocking used when Kubaik was in Denver.

I think Foster and Morris are both good RB, they run with power and have decent speed. You will seldom see them go down with an arm tackle.

I think the system is a big help to both RB but I also think they are quality players in their own right.

Good to know this is a Denver carryover. Will watch the Houston game more closely with this in mind

 

[Aven8]

I've always said Felix would be a 1000 yd rusher every year in this type of scheme.

 

[Apollo Creed]

It's what Shanahan does.

He came in from day 1 and said this is the plan, and went about building it. It took three years to get the right players in place but it's done and they'll be one of the better running teams in the league while he's there. Zone blocking is easy and unique and you can get away with not having blue chippers to do it. Just get on your man's hip and ride him to the sideline.

OTOH, Jason Garrett has been here for six years running the offense. We've screwed around with the offensive line, invested resources in it before deciding in year 5 that we're bringing in Callahan, swapping our tackles and running some zone blocking ourselves.

One coaching staff had a vision, and focused on implementing that vision.

The other chases it's tail in futility. I can't wait to see what next year's "Hey what if we tried this?" idea is.

Good post, will get ignored.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

To add to ABQ,

The scheme is designed for the runner to have to have enough vision to make one cut to find the hole, and run "downhill".

It stretches out the defensive line and also holds up linebackers. Putting the secondary on an island at times. Forces the defense to be more reactive than proactive.

 

[InmanRoshi]

It's what Shanahan does.

He came in from day 1 and said this is the plan, and went about building it. It took three years to get the right players in place but it's done and they'll be one of the better running teams in the league while he's there. Zone blocking is easy and unique and you can get away with not having blue chippers to do it. Just get on your man's hip and ride him to the sideline.

OTOH, Jason Garrett has been here for six years running the offense. We've screwed around with the offensive line, invested resources in it before deciding in year 5 that we're bringing in Callahan, swapping our tackles and running some zone blocking ourselves.

One coaching staff had a vision, and focused on implementing that vision.

The other chases it's tail in futility. I can't wait to see what next year's "Hey what if we tried this?" idea is.

We stuck with Hudson Houck for 5 years, which is pretty much the opposite of chasing your tail. If Garrett and the Cowboys think the franchise is better off going long term to a zone blocking scheme (and I think it's the wave of the future in the NFL), I'm glad they bit the bullet and did it. To stick with something for no other reason than we've been doing it in the past would be unimaginative and unadaptive and stagnant, would it not?

And even if you're right, it's a crying over spilled argument. What's the pragmatic solution today? Change coaches and schemes again and wait another 3 years, the way Shanny needed 3 years to implement his scheme in Washington? Or let Callahan follow through without running him out of town mid-transition? Wouldn't that be chasing your tail?

 

[InmanRoshi]

I've always said Felix would be a 1000 yd rusher every year in this type of scheme.

There is no way Felix is staying healthy enough to be a 1000 yard rusher in any scheme. And he's certainly not doing it at this point in his career with what appears to be degenerative knees.

 

[Idgit]

Good post, will get ignored.

It's half a good post. Shanahan is a good coach. He's obviously got a scheme that delivers an effective running game. That's not a reflection on Garrett at all.

The Skins aren't farther along than we are in the process. The front-loaded their talent acquisition, and they've got a good team that's capable of competing. So do we. Our plan in the offseason was a good one. It didn't pan out, but not because it wasn't thought out.