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WT Zac Boyer " Redskins could tilt from Zone running scheme to include Power Running"


End2round2sanders

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Via rotoworld and Washington times. Take it for what its worth.

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/22/2014-redskins-training-camp-running-backs-preview/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7618/alfred-morris

 

The Washington Times expects the Redskins to "tilt away" from the zone-blocking scheme and incorporate more power concepts under new coach Jay Gruden.

Gruden's background is indeed in power running, and Washington's obvious offseason effort to get bigger in the trenches suggests the Shanahans' system will be gradually scrapped. It's something of a concern for Alfred Morris, who also offers very little in the passing game. We like Morris to stay in the 270-carry range this season, but clearing 300 like he did as a rookie is unrealistic with more emphasis on the pass. His YPC average could also take a hit.
 
I don't get why we have to ease the zone run blocking scheme from our system. It worked for Mike Shanahan for 2 decades to the point of it being a running joke " You can stick any running back in Shanahan's backfield and they'd gain over 1,000 yards or more". I know Gruden wants to make his mark but I feel it would be wise to keep those blocking schemes in his back pocket. Yes he's drafted some beef to help with his power running game, but if our line can't execute it it you can always revert back to it.
 
Say what you want about Shanny, 2 SB rings is 2 SB rings, I feel variety and keeping the defense thinking is a wise thing. If they know we're one one style running team it makes preparation that much easier for them. I don't like this idea of weeding out zone running schemes, when we've done so well with it in the past.
 
Thoughts?
 
 
 
 
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Yeah...in which article does it say Gruden wants to transition to a power running game?

True. In one article, it says that the newspaper (Washington Times) expects him to go away from the ZBS. :) I don't see any direct quotes from Gruden. All we've heard all Summer was that he plans to keep a lot of the current running game.

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True. In one article, it says that the newspaper (Washington Times) expects him to go away from the ZBS. :) I don't see any direct quotes from Gruden. All we've heard all Summer was that he plans to keep a lot of the current running game.

 

There were direct quotes from Gruden earlier in the offseason that he expects a lot of the running game to carry over but they will also add some power concepts. He has also said he wants to see the O'Line get heavier. Thats not inconsistent with what those articles are saying - its just a question of degree. We will have to see what happens when the bullets start flying.

 

Personally I think adding the ability to run some power will help the offense.

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The receivers we brought in are proof that Gruden isn't simply cloning his Cincy offense, well that and he's said he's doing different things to adapt to personnel. I trust a guy that improved his previous offense every season to a top 5 unit with Dalton at QB will run an offense here that gets the most out of players.

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I think the thig everyone saw was our line was too small to be able to simply drop back in pass protection but was very good in the zone. Gruden is more pass centric and wants to be able to get more time to throw . I think that is more the message I got from the bigger linemen. I think the WT has noticed we are getting bigger OL and jumped and there was a conclusion the zone blocking is going to land on.

 

It might happen..

 

But one thing I thought was interesting in his PC yesterday (Grudens) was his reference back to his staff and their involvement in the game plan and scheme . Remember McVay and Forester are hold overs and the last thing you want to do is come in nd change something that works well .

 

I think there will be a more hybrid feel to the offense as the bigger guys fill the interior there are some concepts that may not be as effective..

 

I think you also cannot plan on Morris always being that guy and we like most every other NFL franchise will eventually move away from the feature back into a rotation or RB committee ... copy cat leuge and all that..

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I welcome the change to a stout OL built to power block. Don't be fooled, the bigger boys can still move.

 

It did get old watching our OL getting blown up trying to stretch, and Morris having to break tackles just to get his 4. Wow the Shanahan stretch play went into the crapper in 2013 with barely a mention; defenses solved it attacking the OL as they moved laterally. They fired on us all year in run and pass downs alike. It was tough sledding out there.

 

I look forward to an OL that can actually block in short yardage. 

 

And pass block for RG3 including opening the door for QB sneaks, once again. I think we ran THE worst QB sneak I have ever seen last year. It was so not us, I think we only tried it once in the past 2 seasons.

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Morris will be just fine in a power-running scheme, he's anything but a product of the ZBS.  Morris runs hard/sheds tackles, hits the hole quick, sets up blocks well, and does some of his best work in between the tackles.

 

If acquiring larger o linemen that are better suited to a power-running scheme, helps with the pass protection, then I'm all for it.

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I want them to be more adept at a power running game when it's necessary, like short yardage, but the ZBS was just too effective to not employ in some fashion.  I don't really wanna see Morris go from 4.5-5 yards every time he touched it to 4-4.5, just so Gruden can run what he likes.  Wouldn't seem like the best use of resources.

 

It would be a shame if Morris suffered from what Clinton Portis did.  First two years in the ZBS, puts up big numbers, then goes to a power running game and is simply less efficient and productive.   Now, I expect Morris to get fewer carries this time around, so his production will take a hit just from that.  But when your back is getting 5 yards a clip, kinda tough to say "eh, not interested in that."

 

The key is having versatile linemen, which I don't think we have, even with the additions.  Trent can run just about any scheme you can come up with, but the rest of them are clearly limited in their versatility. 

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What the shame was with Portis, was that Gibbs made him pound the ball up inside. You will be Riggo II.

 

Portis went from 205 to probably close to 230, and sucked it up and never complained. He was perhaps our most physical player, right behind Sean Taylor.  Portis went from a finesse back to power back, up between the tackles over and over.

 

Morris is built for this. Portis despite his new found girth didn't rank too high on the break tackle.

 

On that subject, where does Morris rank 1 to 100 on a break tackle?   I am not sure who is the best in the league (to provide scale) but I would grade Morris 92.

 

Portis would hit you like a ton of bricks but didn't BT. 75 for him.

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Believe Morris ranked #1 overall last year in yards after contact for RBs.

 

I think it should also be noted that ZBS running scheme is built to hit the big play, and while Morris YAC might suffer in a power running scheme due to lack of 20+ yard runs.  There will be less rushing plays that gain a yard or less, helps the offense stay on schedule, which cannot be undervalued.

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Yeah...in which article does it say Gruden wants to transition to a power running game?

To add to this, the first article presents it as the author's opinion that they will transition to more of a power game, because that's what Gruden is familiar with. 

 

Personally, I think that Morris can do either.  I like the zone-stretch running game, but every now and then being able to line up and move the DL back 4-5 yards and pick up a few tough yards playing power, smash-mouth football is also good.

 

I actually think a blend of the two could be ridiculously deadly. 

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I don't think the ZBS was a problem. The problem was that outside of Trent Williams, Shanahan made very poor choices in selecting Offensive Linemen. I don't see a need to change the run game because it works and even the Big Bad Seahawks have had trouble stopping our outside zone run plays and the playaction bootlegs that come with it. When other teams are getting stuffed up the middle we will have the versatility to work the outside with the stretch plays along with still having read option in the mix.

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I do not think Morris's 4.6 YPC will diminish at all in a different scheme.

 

My reasoning, iron Mike ran him up inside a LOT more last year than in 2012, basically called power scheme plays but without the horses up front to do it. facepalm.gif  Coupled with Mahons belief he was the top guy after contact, I am not concerned. I think his 4.6 numbers from last year, was mostly ALL Morris. Gone was the read option which had taken the league by storm in 2012.

 

Outside of a Barry Sanders type situation, I would guess that it is very rare that a ~300 carry back is able to pull a 4.5+ on a 3-13 team.

 

Gruden will improve on our inside blocking. Easy for me to say, as I thought it could literally get no worse. We couldn't push for a yard if our season depended on it.

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I don't think the ZBS was a problem. The problem was that outside of Trent Williams, Shanahan made very poor choices in selecting Offensive Linemen. I don't see a need to change the run game because it works and even the Big Bad Seahawks have had trouble stopping our outside zone run plays and the playaction bootlegs that come with it. When other teams are getting stuffed up the middle we will have the versatility to work the outside with the stretch plays along with still having read option in the mix.

 

I concur, the key is the talent on the OL, which we still don't really have, IMO.  

 

I never subscribed to the notion that if you run the ZBS, you automatically have to sacrifice pass protection and short yardage.  It just takes good scouting and player development.    But when you wait until the middle and late rounds to get your OL every year, you tend to have to select one dimensional guys.  They may be good at that one dimension, but it's still one dimension.  These college OL these days are becoming bigger, stronger, and more and more athletic, I think they're there to be had if you play your cards right.

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I'm not too concerned for Morris' production, because I watched what he did after he broke past the line, he's a tank. Tough back, YAC, hard to tackle, facing fewer defenders in the box, he isn't as dependent on scheme as some others have been and I don't believe Gruden will throw that away because of some philosophical differences. When you toss in what a humble, team first kinda player he is, I think he'll be fine

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It's not as if you can't have big, strong guys run a ZBS.  It's just like most positions in football -- the physical freaks who can do it all are hard to find.  You're going to have to invest 1st & 2nd rounders in the OL if you want guys who can ZBw/P, but it can be done.

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I think Morris will be fine and I don't have a problem with more power running. The Seahawks did fine with running a power scheme. I'm just not sure we have the guys to do it. Polumbus would need to go as well as Cory L.

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... Personally, I think that Morris can do either.  I like the zone-stretch running game, but every now and then being able to line up and move the DL back 4-5 yards and pick up a few tough yards playing power, smash-mouth football is also good.

 

I actually think a blend of the two could be ridiculously deadly. 

 

Agree. At this point my concern is with the OL.

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It's not as if you can't have big, strong guys run a ZBS.  It's just like most positions in football -- the physical freaks who can do it all are hard to find.  You're going to have to invest 1st & 2nd rounders in the OL if you want guys who can ZBw/P, but it can be done.

 

This is my thought as well.  But we either don't have those picks or don't use them on the OL.  So we wind up trying to scrape together an OL from rejects and late round picks.  

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I hope that, in the end, Gruden will adapt to whatever strengths we have on our roster. That's all I really care about from our coaching staff. He has some inherited personnel now, so I would expect there to be some carryover in the scheme. But, as he brings in new players over the coming years, he can adjust to whatever fits them. 

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This team absolutely needed bigger men up front, they got manhandled by every good defense they faced. That change could be good for 7 or more points a game. I'm sure they will keep those bread and butter zone runs and add some power rushing when needed, that will only make us a better offense and less predictable.

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