Can a Rant Oline Guru explain me this?

quote:

---

Zone blocking in the running game is when two or three offensive linemen work in tandem as opposed to each offensive lineman having a specific, predetermined man to block. Zone blocking involves the center, guard, tackle and tight end working in combination to block an area with an emphasis on double-teaming the defensive linemen who are aligned on the line of scrimmage. The concept is for two adjacent linemen to come off in unison and attack a defensive line to the play side or to the side the ball carrier is going.

The advantage, as opposed to man blocking, is that you create a double-team with two players blocking one defensive lineman. This allows the offensive linemen to be aggressive because he knows he has help if his defensive lineman was to pinch inside. It also provides movement at the point of attack, which can open creases for the running back.


Zone blocking initially starts out as a double team at the point of attack on the down defensive linemen, but the beauty of it is that one of the offensive linemen will leave to attack the linebacker while one stays to take over the defensive lineman. The key is for the two offensive linemen working in unison to double-team the defensive lineman to decide who and when one of them will leave to block the linebacker. In the diagram below, we show the offensive line starting the initial double team on the defensive lineman.

---

LINK
It's not a switch you just make over night. In addition to the reps it takes for the OL to run it well, it's an entirely different look for the backs.

quote:

---

What's the difference between zone blocking and man blocking? Is that the main source of our oline struggles thus far?

---

I think a large part of it is that none of our OL really fit the type of scheme that Grimes likes to run and that is a huge problem. If anyone remembers the Saints last year, they tried switching to a zone blocking scheme for rushing the ball and it was disastrous.

In the end, Grimes is just not a good coach, and once again, Les chose a coach that is supposedly a great recruiter over a coach known for his actual coaching ability. This guy is like the Crowton of OL coaches, but unfortunately, Auburn was his LSU, and we got to be his Maryland.

Dam, dam, dam! Just think he chose Grimes over LSU alum and future hall of famer Kevin Mawae.

(no message)