re: Denbrock running game: Inside Zone, Split Zone, and wrinkles

quote:

---

I do have one question/concern though: wasn’t the awakening of last year’s rushing attack largely a result of switching from a zone to gap scheme? I know it’ll be different backs, but I just wonder if our OL is for whatever reason more adept at iso/power/counter than zone concepts.

---

I think TDP just wasn’t a cutback runner. Or maybe it’s more fair to say that wasn’t his strength. But yes, we did move away from zone to more gap schemes. We also started using Mashburn a fair amount as a lead blocker.

Also keep in mind that we don’t just have different backs now - we have an entirely different OL.

I’m not a huge fan of zone in general, but I feel a lot better about it having a staff with a proven history of coaching it at the college level.