Is it the power game versus zone-scheme thing? I can maybe understand that. But, I thought we were starting to incorporate more power plays with pulling linemen near the end of the year.
Yes, it is a zone thing, the way we play it, and the players we have playing it.
Pulling doesn't necessarily differentiate zone vs. a conventional assignment blocking scheme, except in the sense that the pulling lineman is probably heading for a particular gap. I've been very impressed with how Washington pulls in the context of their zone scheme and read option, and we saw what their rookie 6th. round TB did in that scheme. Seattle also uses a zone scheme; Lynch seems to gain some yards with it.
The league is about 1/2 zone, 1/2 assignment:
http://nflsfuture.com/2012/03/28/team-by-team-offensivedefensive-schemes/
In zone blocking, roughly speaking, the O-linemen do not have a pre-assigned man or gap assignment. It's read, react, and "influence"-the-defender approach...you try to open the hole that the defense will give you. It's a team/finesse approach. If done well, it can be cost effective, because you can use finesse-type interior linemen who go lower in the draft while having the athleticism to develop into decent pass-pro guys. Or so the theory goes.
Consequently, the TB is not running to a pre-defined gap. You'll often hear zone running backs needing to be patient, read-and-react, one-cut-and-go guys. The reason being he needs to wait to see where a hole develops, then hit it fast before it closes.
The Packers do use conventional assignment blocking in short yardage, but they are predominantly zone.
I like Jackson as a runner, and while he has the reputation of being a power back, he's got quick feet and the ability to redirect at the line. But he's getting up in mileage, has lost a bit of quickness, and has been playing in an assignment scheme with the Rams. He could work for us, but there's a good chance he wouldn't.
