warhawk
Cheesehead
The thing that jumps out about it is that not many pro teams go with this system even though it seems to have worked effectively where it has been used.
Denver and Atlanta both had success with it and now with the Falcons new HC there they are going away from it.
Here's some things I have observed as to why this is and also how the Pack evolved into this scheme.
First, it's not easy to change over to personnel that can do what it takes nor is it easy to teach guys that are not familiar with it. It's not like there are Zone Blocking System guards and tackles and centers floating around the NFL. Our many coaches that are familiar with it for that matter.
The evolution of this system getting installed here has been interesting to watch. It obviously wasn't the direction anybody was thinking when TT first got here. It wasn't considered until MM became coach and Jago was hired at OC who had previous experience with it.
The fact that Rivera, Wahle, and then Flanny were not retained played right into a faster transition to personnel that had experience playing in this system.
Fortunately we already had Well's which helped and then came Colledge, Spitz, Moll, and now Barbre. Clifton and Taush have struggled at times but seem to be getting it down with time.
Normally this would not be an easy transitional type thing and I can see where teams, especially with a veteran line, would not want to go thru it.
What I do like is that well.....it works. Atlanta and Denver showed how effective it can be once you have guys that know how to run it.
Secondly, You don't need a L. Tomlinson type running back to have a good running game.
Third, many colleges DO use the ZBS but not many pros. That makes finding good players out of college easier to find and less competitive to get than more traditional blockers that most the other NFL teams will be after. Same with the RB's that have LEARNED how to be effective in a ZBS in college.
Last, opposing teams have to figure out how to prepare for it like once a year. Not as easy as preparing for a similar offense to what you saw two weeks ago.
It may lead to draft picks that make you go "say what?" Jackson for example was curious with other RB's slated ahead of him on the chart. The thing is they don't have seperate charts for blockers and RB's that played in traditional blocking schemes vs. the ZBS.
It made sense to take him since he showed the strengths a RB needs to be successful in it and he had experience with it at Nebraska who is a team that uses zone blocking.
Why take a chance on somebody else that's never been exposed to it on the chance he might be good in that system? I understand the pick.
Hopefully thru this transition we will see the effectiveness of the ZBS like Denver and Atlanta has had in the past. It hasn't been all that easy but probably easier than it would be for other teams due to the timing of certain things that brought an influx of zone blocking type lineman in fairly quickly. A two year change over is about as fast as it could possibly be done after looking back when all this started.
Which is why we probably won't see many other teams try to do this.
Denver and Atlanta both had success with it and now with the Falcons new HC there they are going away from it.
Here's some things I have observed as to why this is and also how the Pack evolved into this scheme.
First, it's not easy to change over to personnel that can do what it takes nor is it easy to teach guys that are not familiar with it. It's not like there are Zone Blocking System guards and tackles and centers floating around the NFL. Our many coaches that are familiar with it for that matter.
The evolution of this system getting installed here has been interesting to watch. It obviously wasn't the direction anybody was thinking when TT first got here. It wasn't considered until MM became coach and Jago was hired at OC who had previous experience with it.
The fact that Rivera, Wahle, and then Flanny were not retained played right into a faster transition to personnel that had experience playing in this system.
Fortunately we already had Well's which helped and then came Colledge, Spitz, Moll, and now Barbre. Clifton and Taush have struggled at times but seem to be getting it down with time.
Normally this would not be an easy transitional type thing and I can see where teams, especially with a veteran line, would not want to go thru it.
What I do like is that well.....it works. Atlanta and Denver showed how effective it can be once you have guys that know how to run it.
Secondly, You don't need a L. Tomlinson type running back to have a good running game.
Third, many colleges DO use the ZBS but not many pros. That makes finding good players out of college easier to find and less competitive to get than more traditional blockers that most the other NFL teams will be after. Same with the RB's that have LEARNED how to be effective in a ZBS in college.
Last, opposing teams have to figure out how to prepare for it like once a year. Not as easy as preparing for a similar offense to what you saw two weeks ago.
It may lead to draft picks that make you go "say what?" Jackson for example was curious with other RB's slated ahead of him on the chart. The thing is they don't have seperate charts for blockers and RB's that played in traditional blocking schemes vs. the ZBS.
It made sense to take him since he showed the strengths a RB needs to be successful in it and he had experience with it at Nebraska who is a team that uses zone blocking.
Why take a chance on somebody else that's never been exposed to it on the chance he might be good in that system? I understand the pick.
Hopefully thru this transition we will see the effectiveness of the ZBS like Denver and Atlanta has had in the past. It hasn't been all that easy but probably easier than it would be for other teams due to the timing of certain things that brought an influx of zone blocking type lineman in fairly quickly. A two year change over is about as fast as it could possibly be done after looking back when all this started.
Which is why we probably won't see many other teams try to do this.
