Zone or Power
October 15th, 2017 at 12:33 AM ^
October 15th, 2017 at 2:24 AM ^
Umn because he hired Greg Frey and then they became a primarily zone team.
If they only wanted zone as a changeup, they wouldn't have run so much zone while struggling to win games. They already mixed in zone before this year. Seems pretty clear they started going back to being primarily gap-based because they can't run zone well at all.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:31 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:34 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
i remember there was on year, LSU vs bama, LSU just keep punding the middle, it didn't work well in the first 2 qrt, but the mid of 2nd half, bama's DT was just too tired to keep it up. Man Ball it is. We should just keep man ball what ever weakness of the opposing DL will be. pound them until they get injury or gassed.
October 14th, 2017 at 11:46 PM ^
From what I can tell when something is working the coaches think, "ok now that X is working it should set up Y." So even though X is working consistently we bail on it to do play Y. In theory that's great, but when your offense struggles mightily you need to just stick with what is working and abuse it. Yes, 4 straight successful run plays may set up a deep bomb on the following play but even if its open what are the odds we complete it in the current state of our offense? That 5th play needs to be another run.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
Power is easier because it basically identifies a path that the blocker targets and assigns simple tasks such as hook the first man trying to cross your face or kick out the first man across your face.
I think this strategy does penalize you heavily in the pass game though as it gives immediate keys to S and LBs that free them from space assignments they otherwise have to honor.
I think it's accurate to say that from a pure running the ball standpoint, power blocking is superior to zone based but if you can execute zone schemes it is superior for keeping the D guessing and facilitates your passing game better.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^
+1 Insightful.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
I'm guessing the staff wants to switch over to zone eventually? If not, then idk what Frey is doing here.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
Well, we're told that he's coaching the tackles and TEs. I think it's too early to judge his affect on the staff. My belief is that he was brought in because Harbaugh felt that Drev wasn't able to balance his roles as OC and OL coach and needed more hands there. At least, that seems reasonable.
Obviously they've added a lot of zone this year and it hasn't gone well. Zone does take time to master, I'm told, and I would guess that they're going to run it more as the players get better at it. But, obviously, the players are doing better with power through two games.
But Frey is also the TE coach and they've been a pleasant surprise to me, and the biggest issue with our tackles is pass blocking anyway and Frey should be fine coaching that no matter what run scheme we use.
That validates his role on this year's team. But I basically agree that it seems inevitable that zone will be more involved in the future with Frey coming onboard.
October 14th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
that's my guess.
October 14th, 2017 at 11:24 PM ^
October 15th, 2017 at 7:07 AM ^
...only hope.
October 14th, 2017 at 11:18 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^
I get wanting to be multiple, but if there's ever a time to just go full house backfield and run a gap scheme.......
October 14th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
our two guards are decent in pulling... thats a small positive.
October 14th, 2017 at 11:13 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 11:36 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 11:19 PM ^
October 15th, 2017 at 2:58 AM ^
October 14th, 2017 at 11:58 PM ^
Power is what the disembodied head of NCAA '06 Kirk Herbstreit says to me the night after every OSU loss.
Zone is what DeBord keeps calling because he has a nervous tic that won't allow him to call anything else. He tries to sing out the words 'flea' and 'flicker' but they just won't come.
October 15th, 2017 at 1:59 AM ^
Crazy ending to this UW-ASU game. ASU staying really aggressive late.
October 15th, 2017 at 2:05 AM ^
October 15th, 2017 at 2:07 AM ^
Down goes Washington. Ton of upsets this weekend.
October 15th, 2017 at 2:27 AM ^
is simpler. It's easier to understand assignments, because each guy knows who he's going to get and his assignment and rule. Zone is tougher because nobody actually knows who they're going to block because it depends on the movement of the defense. Obviously if you have an outside shade on a stretch play, you can guess who you'll probably get. But Power is more difficult to execute because it relies on winning one on one matchups at the point of attack, which takes more size/talent/coaching to be able to dominate. Zone is more about getting a helmet on a helmet and allowing the running back to find holes.
October 15th, 2017 at 8:20 AM ^
seem obvious which scheme is 'easier' for OL to execute well.
With power each guy has a specific assignment, but they still have to correctly determine which opposing player is their assignment pre-snap. Plenty of opportunity to make mistakes here.
With zone each guy is 'assigned' a zone. Post snap there can be plenty of mistakes, such as when the opposing d-line does things to confuse zone blocking schemes, etc.
Doesn't it just depend on how many pratice reps they get in either scheme?
Maybe it power is easier for the RB becasue he knows where the play is designed to open a hole and does not have to read/choose the gaps etc., as is needed in a zone scheme.
October 15th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
on the personnel. Big, strong, powerful OL with a bit of dog in them will probably execute power better, partially because it'll give them better blocking angles (Provided a good scheme). Zone is better if you have leaner linemen, where you can use foot quickness and lack of size to an advantage.
With power, the specific assignment isn't as difficult because most power schemes have a specific rule, such as "First man outside the center", or "Covered Base, Uncovered Power Climb to backer". As soon as those rules are gotten down, it's much easier. With Zone you have to know if you're getting help, so you can use a specific footwork or hand placement. If you're the frontside scoop man, you're not going to take all of the DL/LB, you're going to have to take the outside 2/3rd and drive enough for the man over to take over and push you up. With a young line, it can be much moire complex deciding which footwork, hand placement to use and the timing is thrown off.
October 15th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
as to power vs zone blocking were great. From what I understand run the power game. With those big fellas on the right side and Tyrone Jr. Run right. Sprinkle in some left side runs especially wideout reverse play's and hopefully hit some passes. I don't know how the remaining opponent's defensive line's will be able to hold up to that Michigan right guard and tackle combination.
October 15th, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^
longtime lurker first time poster
let me start off by saying ive coached football for 22 years 13 of those as a head coach. I currently coach at a school that runs both zone and gap principles. I think in its most simplistic answer gap schemes are eaier to teach and easier to defend. IZ takes a while to figure out. TBH MIchigan had some success running IZ yesterday obiviously the big runs for TDs were gap schemes. The long run in the 2nd half by Higdon was a neat twist on counter where Poggi took two steps left (false key) and then logged through the hole where Bredeson was the kick
Finally everybody runs both schemes. Wisconsin, Ohio St, Bama all run both types of schemes
October 15th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
also
Mike Owenu was our 4th best OL vs Florida may now be our best