- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Denbrock running game: Inside Zone, Split Zone, and wrinkles
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:08 pm
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:08 pm
I've been digging into Denbrock's playcalling at Cincinatti, and I thought I'd bring a little analysis of what he likes to do so that we have an idea of what to expect Saturday. This post will detail the run game, specifically, Denbrocks favorite run plays - the inside zone and the split zone. Forgive my formattinging I'm a rookie with images and GIFs.
I think everyone knows what an inside zone is, so we will move on to the split zone. The split zone utilizes zone blocking, with the only difference being an H back or even X receiver being used to kick out the edge defender. This allows the tackle to move down to the second level quickly, and often provides a cutback lane for the running back.
And a GIF of him running this play in the CFP vs Alabama
He will run this play from almost any personnel grouping and has a ton of wrinkles to add to it. When he has a mobile QB, as he did at Cincy, he can have the H back slip past the edge defender and become a lead blocker for a zone read (you can see in the GIF above, had the edge crashed on the back, Ridder would have kept this with room to run and a lead blocker). BUT, he can also release the H back into the flat for an easy completion as shown below
To demonstrate his creativity, he will even run this with a wide receiver instead of an H back - Imagine this with Malik Nabers
Here is another read where the TE slipped as a lead blocker. This should have been an easy touchdown as you can see by Ridder and the TEs body language
There are more wrinkles he can throw in, he does some RPO with this look, and also takes some deep shots in PA when the safeties start to come down on the run and flats.
I'm growing more confident in Denbrock as I watch more. He honestly had a great gameplan vs. Bama and should have had 2 early touchdowns but had some bad luck with batted passes at the line and a poor throw by Ridder.
Hopefully over the next couple of evenings I'll be able to dive into his counter and power running game and the passing game. Looking forward to it.
I think everyone knows what an inside zone is, so we will move on to the split zone. The split zone utilizes zone blocking, with the only difference being an H back or even X receiver being used to kick out the edge defender. This allows the tackle to move down to the second level quickly, and often provides a cutback lane for the running back.
And a GIF of him running this play in the CFP vs Alabama
He will run this play from almost any personnel grouping and has a ton of wrinkles to add to it. When he has a mobile QB, as he did at Cincy, he can have the H back slip past the edge defender and become a lead blocker for a zone read (you can see in the GIF above, had the edge crashed on the back, Ridder would have kept this with room to run and a lead blocker). BUT, he can also release the H back into the flat for an easy completion as shown below
To demonstrate his creativity, he will even run this with a wide receiver instead of an H back - Imagine this with Malik Nabers
Here is another read where the TE slipped as a lead blocker. This should have been an easy touchdown as you can see by Ridder and the TEs body language
There are more wrinkles he can throw in, he does some RPO with this look, and also takes some deep shots in PA when the safeties start to come down on the run and flats.
I'm growing more confident in Denbrock as I watch more. He honestly had a great gameplan vs. Bama and should have had 2 early touchdowns but had some bad luck with batted passes at the line and a poor throw by Ridder.
Hopefully over the next couple of evenings I'll be able to dive into his counter and power running game and the passing game. Looking forward to it.
32
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:09 pm to Not Cooper
Nice work 
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:10 pm to Not Cooper
This one post demonstrates that you have more football knowledge than 98% of people that frequent this board.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:16 pm to Not Cooper
Doing the lords work
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:18 pm to Not Cooper
Nice! Looks like a triple option pass bc they don't block the end but read him.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:21 pm to Not Cooper
quote:
I think everyone knows what an inside zone is
You're being too generous on this board's football IQ. Most still think you must have a running QB for RPO offenses.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:23 pm to Not Cooper
This is similar to the ATVS write up I posted, but it’s nice to see the plays having some semblance of success against objectively better talent.
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.
ETA: I do love that split play though, having the TE make sure you don’t get back-doored
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.
ETA: I do love that split play though, having the TE make sure you don’t get back-doored
This post was edited on 8/31/22 at 10:30 pm
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:30 pm to Not Cooper
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:31 pm to ForeverEllisHugh
Very impressive post. Thanks.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:32 pm to ForeverEllisHugh
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 haven't dug too much into the games from last season, but the "awakening" was essentially one game, when Florida seemed totally unprepared for any gap at all. We ran GT or GH counter like 40 times and each time it looked like they were lost. But yes, I think TDP was much better suited for gap. We just ran very little of it early in the season. That could have been due to poor coaching or just an inexperienced O-line.
Either way, Denbrock does have plenty of gap in his arsenal. Should have a post coming tomorrow night on his gap game.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:35 pm to Not Cooper
Well done
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:35 pm to ForeverEllisHugh
quote:
wasn’t the awakening of last year’s rushing attack largely a result of switching from a zone to gap scheme?
Correct.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:56 pm to BatonrougeCajun
We need an “intelligent poster” board. This is too good for the rant.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:57 pm to Not Cooper
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:58 pm to Not Cooper
Great stuff.
Should be required bookmarks for anybody who wants to comment/applaud/criticize the Offense this season.
Attaboy and Thanks.
Should be required bookmarks for anybody who wants to comment/applaud/criticize the Offense this season.
Attaboy and Thanks.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 10:58 pm to ForeverEllisHugh
The reason why LSU’s run game was so shite was the because Ed’s obsession with the “Joe Brady offense” and pretty much the only run play LSU had was inside zone because that’s all they needed to run and Clyde could jump cut from one gap to two gaps over. It also helped to have the best quarterback in CFB history and two of the NFL’s best ever rookie receivers the defense had to account for.
The one game they finally started varying it up and pulling offensive linemen was florida.
The one game they finally started varying it up and pulling offensive linemen was florida.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 11:03 pm to ForeverEllisHugh
quote:This is similar to the ATVS write up I posted, but instead it’s nice to see content from somebody who knows their a-hole from the 50 yd line.
This is similar to the ATVS write up I posted, but it’s nice to see the plays having some semblance of success against objectively better talent.
FIFY
Posted on 8/31/22 at 11:22 pm to Not Cooper
Great post.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 11:33 pm to Not Cooper
Nice. It also shows us how an offense can play to its personnel and becomes more sophisticated as a season progresses.
Posted on 8/31/22 at 11:44 pm to Not Cooper
This formation seems perfect for Bech at the Y (H-back in this formation). He is not a TE, but he is the closest thing to one we have at WR. He could handle the lead blocking shown in play #1 which would setup the release routes in play #2 and #3.
As previous poster mentioned, we struggled with zone blocking last year. Denver and the Texans used it very well under Kubiak and the number one complaint about it was it took a well into the initial season, even at the NFL level, to get it ingrained in the O-line. The biggest positive for the scheme was it leveled the playing field for undersized/less talented O-Lines I realize the concepts are simpler at the college level, but it could be cause for some growing pains early on.
Thanks for this, I have been too lazy to do this type of research on my own.
As previous poster mentioned, we struggled with zone blocking last year. Denver and the Texans used it very well under Kubiak and the number one complaint about it was it took a well into the initial season, even at the NFL level, to get it ingrained in the O-line. The biggest positive for the scheme was it leveled the playing field for undersized/less talented O-Lines I realize the concepts are simpler at the college level, but it could be cause for some growing pains early on.
Thanks for this, I have been too lazy to do this type of research on my own.
This post was edited on 8/31/22 at 11:54 pm
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News