Zone Blocking System....

[Oviedo]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

I think Coach Z came here with the intent to implement ZBS which can be effective for both running and passing. His downfall was that the schemes he employed were never able to establish a consistent level of dominance in either the running game or the passing game. IMO that is what ultimately cost him his job. Tomlin essentially gave him the time and the results never came.

I do agree that with the OL we have a more smashmouth approach may be warranted. Except for Hartwig and Colon I don't think any of our starting 5 OL fit the characteristics that typically define a good ZBS lineman.

I woulkd l,ove to hear that Joe Bugel was getting considered for the OL coach job. The guy is very good at what he does but he is also in the LeBeau age group where he may want to ratchet it back unlike LeBeau. Tomlin may also want someone who could be a longer term solution for stability at that position.

I thought Bugel retired.

I haven't seen anything about that. He was active as the Redskins OL coach last season. However he is 69 so that may have happened after Zorn got fired.

But what does retired really mean to any of these guys when someone brings dollars their way.

[steelblood]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

I think Coach Z came here with the intent to implement ZBS which can be effective for both running and passing. His downfall was that the schemes he employed were never able to establish a consistent level of dominance in either the running game or the passing game. IMO that is what ultimately cost him his job. Tomlin essentially gave him the time and the results never came.

I do agree that with the OL we have a more smashmouth approach may be warranted. Except for Hartwig and Colon I don't think any of our starting 5 OL fit the characteristics that typically define a good ZBS lineman.

I woulkd l,ove to hear that Joe Bugel was getting considered for the OL coach job. The guy is very good at what he does but he is also in the LeBeau age group where he may want to ratchet it back unlike LeBeau. Tomlin may also want someone who could be a longer term solution for stability at that position.

I thought Bugel retired.

I haven't seen anything about that. He was active as the Redskins OL coach last season. However he is 69 so that may have happened after Zorn got fired.

But what does retired really mean to any of these guys when someone brings dollars their way.

I think the retirement was recent.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

Does it say that BA doesn't know how to utilize the talent he has to work with?
Maybe the line's blocking scheme isn't his choice to make, I don't know. But it falls along the same lines as not throwing to your 6'7" TE or 6'4" receiver in the red zone. Or not having any roll outs or run options for a QB with incredible speed and quickness.

I thought we threw to Miller a ton this year.. "compared to most Steeler years." Miller dropped a few more then usually, which is not much, but he also had an incredible grab in the Miami game. I think Ben throws to Miller at a decent clip overall.

If you are talking about Dennis Dixon then I need only remind you of Pat White.. Dixon was all we had and we used him perfectly. No one expected it to be that close.
If you are talking about Ben in regards to speed then I'll stop here.

He is talking about Spaeth, and I agree with him. 6'7" 270lbs. Was a 'pass catching TE out of Minnesota'....yet we ask him to strictly block. I am sure Heath is covered a lot as Ben goes to him a lot. Just like Wallace was open cause Holmes & Hines are covered a lot, Spaeth should also be able to sneak out once in a while.

[feltdizz]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

Does it say that BA doesn't know how to utilize the talent he has to work with?
Maybe the line's blocking scheme isn't his choice to make, I don't know. But it falls along the same lines as not throwing to your 6'7" TE or 6'4" receiver in the red zone. Or not having any roll outs or run options for a QB with incredible speed and quickness.

I thought we threw to Miller a ton this year.. "compared to most Steeler years." Miller dropped a few more then usually, which is not much, but he also had an incredible grab in the Miami game. I think Ben throws to Miller at a decent clip overall.

If you are talking about Dennis Dixon then I need only remind you of Pat White.. Dixon was all we had and we used him perfectly. No one expected it to be that close.
If you are talking about Ben in regards to speed then I'll stop here.

He is talking about Spaeth, and I agree with him. 6'7" 270lbs. Was a 'pass catching TE out of Minnesota'....yet we ask him to strictly block. I am sure Heath is covered a lot as Ben goes to him a lot. Just like Wallace was open cause Holmes & Hines are covered a lot, Spaeth should also be able to sneak out once in a while.

Sorry, I don't know our players bodies that well...
He filled in nice for Heath a few years back. Is it against the law to release 2 TE's?
and Spaeth's blocking is the weakest part of his game IMO.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

Does it say that BA doesn't know how to utilize the talent he has to work with?
Maybe the line's blocking scheme isn't his choice to make, I don't know. But it falls along the same lines as not throwing to your 6'7" TE or 6'4" receiver in the red zone. Or not having any roll outs or run options for a QB with incredible speed and quickness.

I thought we threw to Miller a ton this year.. "compared to most Steeler years." Miller dropped a few more then usually, which is not much, but he also had an incredible grab in the Miami game. I think Ben throws to Miller at a decent clip overall.

If you are talking about Dennis Dixon then I need only remind you of Pat White.. Dixon was all we had and we used him perfectly. No one expected it to be that close.
If you are talking about Ben in regards to speed then I'll stop here.

He is talking about Spaeth, and I agree with him. 6'7" 270lbs. Was a 'pass catching TE out of Minnesota'....yet we ask him to strictly block. I am sure Heath is covered a lot as Ben goes to him a lot. Just like Wallace was open cause Holmes & Hines are covered a lot, Spaeth should also be able to sneak out once in a while.

Sorry, I don't know our players bodies that well...
He filled in nice for Heath a few years back. Is it against the law to release 2 TE's?
and Spaeth's blocking is the weakest part of his game IMO.

This is part of my problem with BA. They want a big target so they draft Sweed, and yet he is never in there inside the 20's and how much bigger can you get than 6'7"? Spaeth has shown he can catch when thrown to. Our secondary was abused by large TE's in the redzone in the past....this year specifically (Finley-Heap), when matched up with smaller CB's.

[Slapstick]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

I think the retirement was recent.

Really recent. Like earlier today.

Bugel is only 70. LeBeau thinks Bugel is a wuss for retiring so early.

[pfelix73]

Re: Zone Blocking System....

I'm getting tired of repeating things.... We don't always zone block. And every team from pee wee to high school to college to NFL zone blocks whether you know it or not.

It's actually pretty easy to do and any OLman can do it. All it is- is when a OL peels off a double team to pick up a LB. It's done all the time in every game. In fact, you can use a zone scheme on a trap, etc. This scenario would be an interior zone (G/C)

Example of one of the Steelers plays- Kemo pulls to the right to trap and the C and RG will implement a zone blocking scheme on the NG (if it's a 3-4) and then Essex would just peel off the block to pick up the LB. That's all it is.

And yes, it's just for run blocking like someone else mentioned. You can theroetically use a bit of zone for pass-blocking. I can see that- if that's what you want to call it- a zone....