Zone Blitzing Schemes Sprinkled In The Defense Scheme? Anyone Heard?
Has anyone heard if Don Brown decided to sprinkle in some zone blitzing schemes to Michigan's defensive package this season? This would allow him to continue his pressure packages while maintaining a body in the Hook/Curl zone of the field where Indiana and OSU absolutely ate us alive. I decided to watch both of the films this morning and holy cow was I blown away once again by the amount of slant and progression slants that were completed underneath the Umpire (Ref). I had not watched these games until now because we are getting real close to our season. I felt really bad for Watson but the safeties (who were covering the slots) lined up 2-3 yards outside the slot-even from motion and gave them a ton of room to progress across the field and the area where the ILB's were standing but had blitzed was wide open. I am in no way criticizing coach Brown and I think he is a super good coach. I'm just hoping for the best this year. I hope we are ready to roll. I am feeling good about this season.
August 11th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
I talked to Coach Brown this morning whilst riding my majestic steed.
He didn't tell me if he's going to use a zone blitz scheme occasionally.
Mostly we talked about the weather or how the weather used to be.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:56 PM ^
What a missed opportunity on your part.
August 11th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
I mean, let’s say he did. Are you expecting a press release about it?
August 11th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
I asked if anyone on this board has heard? Not for a press release. You know-an adult response.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
Traditionally, it is a bad idea to ask “does anyone know” or “has anyone heard” questions on the board. This stems from the practice of everyone posting everything Michigan-related. If it’s not a topic already, nobody has heard.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^
If you have been on this board since 2015, you should know this board doesn't answer random questions.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:01 PM ^
I hear asking umbigl1 is a good start. Then negging the hell out of him completes the deal.
August 11th, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^
If he doesn’t have the goods then contact umbig13.
August 11th, 2019 at 9:16 PM ^
Try asking him en Espanol.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
I have heard that but I don't know if the voices I hear can be trusted.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^
There’s been some vague references to being more adaptable to the opponents and adjusting some schemes but DB is gonna play a lot of man and a lot of pressure and if he’s gonna sprinkle in some zone he’s not gonna tell you about it first
August 11th, 2019 at 9:19 PM ^
I believe he mentioned some drop trap coverage in combination with man. Don't expect zone except in very small doses.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:40 PM ^
Why even bother posting in here. SIMPLE question yet the morons have to neg vote and leave a smart ass BITCH LIKE response---lmao
August 11th, 2019 at 8:04 PM ^
Curious, what makes a response "bitch like?"
August 12th, 2019 at 1:55 AM ^
Well sometimes i take her out, by her flowers, walk the dog. Those kinda things.
August 12th, 2019 at 8:32 AM ^
Wait, is the dog my penis?
August 12th, 2019 at 8:15 AM ^
Yours is a simple question, and yet I just gave you an upvote.
+1
August 11th, 2019 at 8:05 PM ^
Simple question... that basically requires you to be a close friend of Don Brown.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
Try counterstrike. Thank me later. ;)
August 11th, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
Pretty sure they line up outside of the slot to prevent the dreaded slot fade. I actually wish they would have started allowing OSU to try the slot fade more since it's a harder throw to make.
Anyway, it seems like Brown's answer was to recruit a ridiculously fast dude who can line straight up and cover both... assuming Dax is going to be the starting nickel at some point.
August 11th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
The first time I saw them line Campbell up outside to match him up with Watson, then motion him in toward slot position but behind the inside receiver and Watson followed...I knew it was going to be a long day.
Inside receiver shielded him at the snap, providing a cushion that even if Watson had matching speed he'd be way steps behind.
Not much you can do with that type of speed in space, man or zone.
It's pretty much the same pre-snap rub route concept I recently see teams try to run on 2pt conversions, only they throw it as a WR screen. OSU used it for a slant.
Thankfully, we're getting our own version!
August 11th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Agree with this. That approach that was eaten up by Penn State may indeed have helped neutralize OSU's throw game, because they didn't go there nearly as much, let alone base their whole offense on fades. It was a missed opportunity in the 2018 OSU imo.
August 11th, 2019 at 2:49 PM ^
Jesus the posts get worse, the closer we get. 20 days
August 11th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^
You definitely helped too.
August 11th, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
Let's cut the guy some slack. It's clearly a mistake to phrase the question in terms of whether or not we have heard anything from Don Brown.
But the underlying issue is a valid topic for discussion. Let's rephrase his question as: given that this was one of the major weaknesses of our defense last year, do we expect to see a change like this one to address it?
August 11th, 2019 at 3:52 PM ^
Yup, this. The OP may have not phrased it the best , but I think it’s fair to have a respectable dialogue about a glaring weakness in our defense in games against an offense with a pulse
August 11th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
I love zone blitz schemes-- those first couple of years the Steelers started running them back in the early 90s teams didn't know what the hell was going on. I feel like OCs have adjusted, but it's still fundamentally a great twist, esp. against less experienced QBs.
The issue for Michigan is that we don't put the practice time into zone in general, so instituting that kind of scheme just isn't practical considering how limited time is already. If you already ran zone as your base D, maybe, but no way does Don Brown have time to work on it.
August 11th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
I don’t care what Brown does as long as he can find a way to stop the same five plays OSU ran against UM last season.
August 11th, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
You're expecting D-linemen to keep up with those fast OSU receivers for awhile? I'd expect to hear grumbling about misusing great pass rushers by having 'em do stuff they don't do all that well (drop into pass coverage) rather than having them do what they do best (get after the QB).
August 11th, 2019 at 3:28 PM ^
We don't even like giving out our roster information. Why would we broadcast what we are going to do? Deception baby!!!
August 11th, 2019 at 3:32 PM ^
Yes. As the set of bristly hair above his upper lip, I have the most insider information on this.
August 11th, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
It’s not so absolute. We’ve seen Brown send 5 or 6 while in zone. Will he do it more or differently? I don’t know.
There’s not a miracle schematic solve for crossers/mesh. If you can’t get pressure up front a receiver will always eventually clear whatever coverage you’re in.
August 11th, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4O7nkd1pPA
Don brown in his most recent interview gives a coy answer to your question at the 19:00 minute mark
August 11th, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
That wasn't the OP's question. OP specifically asked about zone blitzing.
August 11th, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
Edit: Duplicate post; argh.
August 11th, 2019 at 10:13 PM ^
Yeah, when asked what additions and renovations he brought to the defense this year he specifically says yes, and that “it could be a man concept with droppers, you know, it could be a zone concept” to make sure the field is covered.
Like I said, it’s a coy answer but it’s better than what you get from most coaches. He confirms that he brought in something new, and that it ‘might be a zone concept’
August 11th, 2019 at 10:35 PM ^
Sounds good, but the media's question was about pass coverage, and Brown's answer was directed to that. Some people on this thread seem to be confusing zone blitz with general zone coverage. The strength of a zone blitz is that it brings pressure from unexpected sources/directions without reducing the number of defenders who go into pass coverage. The way it does that is to drop a usual pass rusher--a D-lineman--into short pass coverage while bringing a blitz from someone else such as a linebacker. I doubt that would have helped to limit the damage done by fast receivers running short crossing routes, like in the OSU game last year. Though maybe it would have made the QB make a somewhat more difficult throw. Maybe.
August 12th, 2019 at 7:25 AM ^
A zone blitz is any zone coverage while sending pressure (generally defined as more than 4 players). Traditionally, pressure was defined by man coverage.
LeBeau's scheme involved dropping DL who were getting blocked which adds an extra coverage element into the zone without, in theory anyway, losing any of the pressure.
But you can play a 3 under, 3 deep zone or a 4 under, 2 deep zone while sending 5 and not drop anyone. MSU's calling card this decade was playing a 2 under, 3 deep zone and sending 6. I'm honestly not sure how much they have been running that scheme since Narduzzi left for Pitt.
August 12th, 2019 at 9:03 AM ^
Playing just any zone coverage while using a blitz isn't a "zone blitz." At least, not according to the NFL highlights commentary on TV a few years ago. (Which seemed to define the term by LeBeau's scheme that you noted.) Also, I recognize that Wikipedia isn't authoritative, but "a zone blitz is a defensive tactic that sends additional players to rush the opposing team's quarterback, whilst also unexpectedly redirecting a supposed pass rushing player into pass coverage instead." And "The last advantage highlighted above is also perhaps the principal disadvantage to a zone blitz, in that one or more defensive linemen may be required to drop back into coverage while linebackers take their place in rushing the quarterback. Linemen, by design, are the biggest, heaviest, and slowest members of the defense on the field. Asking them to cover a speedy slot receiver or an athletic, pass-catching tight end is often a losing proposition. Most, if not all, linemen, simply do not possess the speed to legitimately cover wide receivers for more than a few yards. These kinds of personnel mismatches can lead to easy completions if the quarterback can correctly identify them." zone blitz
August 11th, 2019 at 5:48 PM ^
Gotta love the Nazi's who get to decide what can and cant be posted on a message board.
Good question OP. I too have been wondering what changes Brown is going to make to the defense to defend against exploitation of our aggressive man coverage
August 11th, 2019 at 6:55 PM ^
I am worried that our zone blitz may run into no fly zones and ensuing blitzkrieg could really expose us to the opposing teams' short, medium and long passes, as well as runs up the middle and to the outside. What can I do? I am just a worrying person.
August 11th, 2019 at 7:05 PM ^
My only thought: DTs must get home. No pressure by the DTs will leave Brown’s D exposed.
What are the thoughts on mixing in Pelini’s matchup or ‘comfort” zone. It had some principles that masked cover 1 and created problems for B1G quarterbacks. When it worked, it was confounding. Hard to teach.
August 11th, 2019 at 8:44 PM ^
You need to add Jo to the end your handle, for Harbaugh...James Joseph...
August 12th, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
Does Pelini's "comfort" zone involve his kitty cats? Is that even legal?
August 11th, 2019 at 9:37 PM ^
I believe in teams doing a lot of what they do best. However, you must throw in some wrinkles because the good teams are going to figure out how to attack the weaknesses of even your strength. I love the attacking aggression but you have to be prepared to make adjustments. Hopefully Gattis can contribute here.
August 11th, 2019 at 11:12 PM ^
Wrinkles can be good. On the other hand, on the matter of zone blitzing, imagine if Brown had either Rashan Gary or Chase Winovich drop into pass coverage while having someone else blitz. That would have been a misuse of talent.
August 11th, 2019 at 11:42 PM ^
Ask Marcus.