Battle of systems: Seahawks' zone vs. Broncos' power

[broncofaninfla]

Battle of systems: Seahawks' zone vs. Broncos' power


Sunday will be a contrast in blocking schemes: Seattle's zone versus the Broncos' new, more physical style.
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/18/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT



http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2010/0907/20100907__20100908_C06_SP08THOMAS~p1_200.JPG (http://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=3297511 ) Demaryius Thomas (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post )




Just like all the other home openers in the last 15 years, the Broncos' long-held identity will be showcased.
There will be five offensive linemen, moving in unison to the left or right, a running back following until making a cut.
The opponent to this zone-blocking, one-cut system Sunday afternoon will be a group of larger, heavier linemen who play a physical brand that was known to occasionally give the Broncos' identity fits.
Only it won't be the Broncos attacking with their patented zone-blocking system Sunday. It will be the Seattle Seahawks, who now employ so many former Broncos coaches and linemen.
When the Seahawks break their huddle, they line up against mostly a larger group of Broncos' ends and
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tackles, guards and centers.
This isn't a guy losing his girlfriend to one of his best friends. This is inviting the old girlfriend and friend over to dinner primarily to show off another girlfriend.
"We still use the zone," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "One of our most effective plays last week was a zone run. The difference is, we don't do it exclusively. Other teams do it almost exclusively."
Their zone-blocking forays aside, the Broncos have transitioned to more of a straight-ahead, man-on- man, power-pull concept.
"I like them both," Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady said. "I like the mix. They are different, though."
Clady was selected No. 12 overall in the 2008 draft by then-Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, whose staff included play-caller Jeremy Bates and receivers coach Jedd Fisch. Shanahan is now coaching the Washington Redskins, while Bates and Fisch are helping Pete Carroll carry out the zone-blocking system with the Seahawks.
Former Broncos coach Alex Gibbs was with the Seahawks through the offseason before retiring.
Carroll said in his conference call this week with the Denver media that the zone- blocking system is a commitment, a philosophy. Those who are committed become defiantly devoted.
"You just take a look over the last, well, since we've been running it, over the last 15 years, who's No. 1 for the last 15 years?" Shanahan said three weeks ago in an interview with The Denver Post. "It's not even close. It's not even close relative to yards, points, first downs.
"If you're going to get a stock, what are you going to do? You're going to look over the last 15, 20 years and see what's No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, and usually if you're going to invest your money, you're going to invest in something that's been done, that's performed at the highest level over that time, for those 15 years, and say, 'Hey, that has a chance to keep on going.' And hopefully it will. I believe it will."
It's true that in the 14-year, Shanahan era from 1995-2008, the Broncos accumulated an NFL-best 30,993 yards, an average of 138.4 yards per game.
And the zone concept got off to a rousing start in 2010 as Shanahan disciples Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison are coaching a Houston Texans team that last week sprang unknown running back Arian Foster for 231 yards against the Indianapolis Colts.
But there are other numbers associated with the zone-blocking system that didn't add up. Look first at the type of linemen who are better suited for the zone.
"Zone blocking involves a lot more athletic movements," Clady said. "Everyone is running. Everyone has a zone you run to. Whoever is in your zone, you block. If there's no one in your zone, you keep running until you get the next guy. We still have that now. It's just not as much."
Those who don't believe in the zone scheme point out its smaller, more athletic linemen tend to wear down as the season goes along. See the Broncos' 2-8 finish after 6-0 start in 2009. There were the Broncos blowing a three- game lead with three to play in 2008; a 2-4 finish after a 5-5 start in 2007; a 2-5 skid after a 7-2 start in 2006.
And on it goes since the 1998 Broncos won the Super Bowl. In fact, the '98 Broncos were the last zone-blocking team to have won a Super Bowl.
Has it been mentioned lately that the Broncos have only one playoff win since 1998?
The tipping point for McDaniels may have been his team's struggles on short- yardage and goal-line situations last year. As the theory goes: Power and mass, not quickness and athleticism, move piles — and better protects the inside pocket for the quarterback in the shotgun.
And so the Broncos made a conscious decision to get bigger up front.
"That's how I grew up as a coach," McDaniels said, referring to his eight seasons as a New England assistant.
And so for the first home game of the 2010 season, it's the visiting Seahawks who will bring the zone-blocking system — only the Broncos' identity for so many recent and vintage years, that's all — to Invesco Field.
Where have you gone, Ben Hamilton? Oh, yeah. The longtime Broncos left guard also is with the Seahawks.




Read more: Battle of systems: Seahawks' zone vs. Broncos' power - The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16107288#ixzz0ztHrSKn8) http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16107288#ixzz0ztHrSKn8 (http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16107288#ixzz0ztHrSKn8)

[broncofaninfla]

I def prefer the zone blocking scheme....

[Lonestar]

In 98 ZBS was still new. And the OL was just abit undersized.

But as the NFL DLs got bigger our OL did not grow with them. Plus TD went away.

So the combunation of more offenses to go ZBS, us getting smaller on the OL, DLs getting bigger and faster, defenses started to pay attention and got BIGGER,faster and smarter about how to play the ZBS.

We got less effective in the red zone or picking up short yardage plays.

It is a nice scheme if you are the only TEAM playing it as DCs will not work as hard to defeat it considering they may only see it at best once every four years or at worst twice a year. And since we have been ineffective in the redzone for a decade even then it was let them run all day and the most they get is 3 points. Since our D has not been stellar over much of the time frame getting 7 over 3 each time is a winner.
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[Bosco]

I def prefer the zone blocking scheme....

Why is that?

[CANHawk]

In 98 ZBS was still new. And the OL was just abit undersized.

But as the NFL DLs got bigger our OL did not grow with them. Plus TD went away.

So the combunation of more offenses to go ZBS, us getting smaller on the OL, DLs getting bigger and faster, defenses started to pay attention and got BIGGER,faster and smarter about how to play the ZBS.

We got less effective in the red zone or picking up short yardage plays.

It is a nice scheme if you are the only TEAM playing it as DCs will not work as hard to defeat it considering they may only see it at best once every four years or at worst twice a year. And since we have been ineffective in the redzone for a decade even then it was let them run all day and the most they get is 3 points. Since our D has not been stellar over much of the time frame getting 7 over 3 each time is a winner.
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Very good point about the not growing with the rest of the league. I thought we might be doing that same thing looking at who we were bringing into training camp this year and hearing Alex Gibbs' perferred size/shape of O linemen.

I'm deffinately dissapointed to see Coach Gibbs retire before the season started, but I'm also glad that we appear to be departing a tad from his prototypical "garbageman" lineman and getting bigger by bringing in guys like Stacey Andrews, Polumbus (I know, you guys all hate him), and bringing back Mansfield Wrotto.

At least with those guys in the mix we won't have to live or die by the ZBS with our run game, if all else fails, they're still big dudes who can hold their own 1 on 1 and we can revert to straight up drive blocking if need be. Jeremy Bates is a very smart and creative coach who is not afraid to adjust mid stream if something isn't working.

I'm interested to see how your new "sometimes zone, sometimes not" running scheme will stack up against our gargantuan front 4 (ok, 3 of them are gargantuan and Chris Clemons is a speed demon).

This game is going to be interesting on many levels...

[dogfish]

battle of two weak offensive lines is more like it. . .

[broncofaninfla]

Why is that?

It's a far more effective scheme. I know Denver had it's issues in short yardage but teams, including Washington, are starting use bigger bodies in the scheme with success. I'm hoping Mcd's power scheme is finally turning the corner for Denver, to date though, our rushing game has been putrid especially in short yardage situations.

[claymore]

I liked the ZBS because it was a hell of alot more fun to watch, and it seemed like you could run it effectively with lower round OL and RB's.

[Bosco]

It's a far more effective scheme.

How do you figure? While it admittedly works pretty well between the 20's, it's never been effective in the red zone except when we had TD and Elway. That's a pretty big part of being effective if you ask me.


I liked the ZBS because it was a hell of alot more fun to watch, and it seemed like you could run it effectively with lower round OL and RB's. You could, until other teams started aiming for the same players and you had to spend premium picks to get the elite talent.

[Dean]

How do you figure? While it admittedly works pretty well between the 20's, it's never been effective in the red zone except when we had TD and Elway. That's a pretty big part of being effective if you ask me.

You could, until other teams started aiming for the same players and you had to spend premium picks to get the elite talent.


IMO there are two misconceptions that are always applied to the Broncos after TD was hurt. There seems to be an oppinion that other teams and offensive schemes don't struggle in the red zone. It's not true look at us last year. The second is that we continually struck out. When we were healthy and had either Portis or Anderson we were not exactly chopped liver. In 2002, 2003, and 2005, we had over 2100 yards and 20 or more rushing TDs. However, the last four years we tried to get by on running back by committee or whatever running back that was not on IR.

If you look at the weights of our O-linemen, we were getting larger just as Shanahan is doing in Washington.

[Lonestar]

The only reason the average weight got larger waa because of one lumpy guy at a time. Foster was abust then when he left we got the fatty OG that ultimily got cut because he could not get unto condition. The following guys never got any bigger or stronger.

Nalen, lepsis hamilton over those years and IF they did gain any size it was less than 5 pounds.

So let's be honest about size. When clady came in that was an upgrade Kuper size wise was a downgrade

The only thing they had going for them was cohesiveness. Yes Coach is correct one year the marine was decent inside the 5 as was Mike Bell IIRC before they cut him.

But there was never ayear that mike did not critique his TEAM and say they did not have to improve in the redzone.

Jason got fat becoming one of the elite FG guys because of our inabiltiy to score from inclose after the HOFers retired.

Because there is so much less field to defend in the RZ and especially inside the five. The defenses can stay at home easier.

This is the first year where we have sufficantly increased the size on the oline. With out looking at the numbers. At OLG about 35# center 20# with OLT ORG and ORT only increasing whatever conditions has done. That can not hurt us one bit.

Are we big enuff to run the PBS time will tell. Most other OLs are still bigger than we are across the board. But some of that is belly fat so we may be about where we need to be.
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[Bosco]

IMO there are two misconceptions that are always applied to the Broncos after TD was hurt. There seems to be an oppinion that other teams and offensive schemes don't struggle in the red zone. This is true, but EVERY ZBS team has trouble running the ball in the redzone.


If you look at the weights of our O-linemen, we were getting larger just as Shanahan is doing in Washington. Yeah, but by then it was too little too late.

[Dean]

Well we have a power blocking scheme almost exclusively the second half of last season and so far this year. I realize to get a definitive answer you need to wait longer but can you say that what we have seen has been an improvement? Our RBs had 35 carries for 70 yards. True, we did get to rushing TDs but they required multiple carries at less point blank range.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

I definitely think LenDale would have made a major difference in picking up the "tough" yards - shame he got hurt. Hopefully, Maroney can contribute.

[Dean]

The only reason the average weight got larger waa because of one lumpy guy at a time. Foster was abust then when he left we got the fatty OG that ultimily got cut because he could not get unto condition. The following guys never got any bigger or stronger.

Nalen, lepsis hamilton over those years and IF they did gain any size it was less than 5 pounds.

So let's be honest about size. When clady came in that was an upgrade Kuper size wise was a downgrade

The only thing they had going for them was cohesiveness. Yes Coach is correct one year the marine was decent inside the 5 as was Mike Bell IIRC before they cut him.

But there was never ayear that mike did not critique his TEAM and say they did not have to improve in the redzone.

Jason got fat becoming one of the elite FG guys because of our inabiltiy to score from inclose after the HOFers retired.

Because there is so much less field to defend in the RZ and especially inside the five. The defenses can stay at home easier.

This is the first year where we have sufficantly increased the size on the oline. With out looking at the numbers. At OLG about 35# center 20# with OLT ORG and ORT only increasing whatever conditions has done. That can not hurt us one bit.

Are we big enuff to run the PBS time will tell. Most other OLs are still bigger than we are across the board. But some of that is belly fat so we may be about where we need to be.
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PS. JR- Our present starting TE, RG, RT, and LT were already here. McD didn't bring them in.