Zone Blocking Schemes: A YouTube Tutorial

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Think you know about zone blocking schemes (ZBS)? This YouTube put together by Houston sports talk radio host / Houston Chronicle blogger Lance Zierlein and former Texans linebacker Kailee Wong is a great primer showing you what zone blocking is supposed to look like.

They also discuss some of the attributes you are looking for when acquiring the athletic players you need to run a ZBS. Though there are few teams in the NFL that still run primarily zone blocking, just about every team in the league runs some of it as a part of their offensive packages.

If you would like to learn more about ZBS as it relates the Houston Texans, check out more after the jump.

Zierlein believes that the acquisition of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs will be "the most important signing in Texans history." I agree.

When coach Gary Kubiak was hired by the Texans, some people believed that the Texans would start having the sort of running game success that Denver has had over the years. Instead, the running game has been a huge drag on the offense. Though they have had a few games where they have been able to run the ball, generally it's been painful to watch.

When I attended a coaching clinic with the Texans before the first Kubiak season, one of the things I heard from (now) offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was how important to the scheme that they were running that the offensive line blocking to look the same to the defense whether it was a run or a pass. This helps make the bootlegs work better and keeps athletic linemen on their heels.

But the Texans never really implemented a Denver-style blocking scheme, and it often appeared that the Texans could either pass or run but had difficulties excelling at both in the same game. Former Texans offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman increased the amount of power blocking that the Texans ran, and it never looked like Sherman's style of running worked with Kubiak's style of passing.

In hiring Gibbs, the offense can focus on one philosophy for that side of the ball, and draft and acquire players that suit that style of play. It also probably means that those people doing their mock drafts should probably scratch lineman off of the Texans first pick. The Texans have so many needs, that if they can coach up a ZBS type lineman from lower in the draft, they can use their higher picks on other needs.

The Texans clearly have issues with the type of players they need to run the ZBS. Both of their experienced centers are old and/or coming off of injury, and the league is often hard on newbie centers. The guard position was also killed with injuries. And the left tackle is old. Gibbs is going to have to do some magic.

The hardest part about implementing a primarily zone blocking scheme is getting the right coaching and players for it. The Texans got the coach they wanted, and it will be an interesting offseason to see what players end up starting on the line, because other than RT Eric Winston and LG Chester Pitts, I have no one else penciled in yet.

Any thoughts on ZBS, Gibbs, the suitability of players on your team to run the ZBS, or drafting ZBS linemen?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-06-2008 @ 11:26AM

Justin said...

"they can use their higher picks on other needs

Say RB for example...

2-06-2008 @ 1:48PM

E said...

Fun to watch. Thanks Steph!

2-07-2008 @ 10:09AM

Xetuoh said...

Justin,

Not to argue your position, in regards to a RB in this draft/FA however, if the "true" ZBS is implemented by Gibbs/Shanny Jr., then the RB position could be filled later in the draft and we fill the "other" needs.
My question(s) is, "how much time it takes to implement the system, do we currently have the players on our roster for it's success and with the one cut and go stlye needed from a running back, do we currently have that back?".

2-07-2008 @ 10:17AM

Stephanie Stradley said...

Xetuoh-

At this point, here are my answers:

1. Depends on what players we have. Atlanta, even with imperfect players picked up quickly. Also, the better the back the Texans have, the more quickly they are likely go look good.

2. We need some help on the roster. Gibbs didn't have his sort of guys on the roster in Atlanta and made due, but I'm expecting some line help and some running back help just given what McNair and Kubiak have already said.

3. No, we don't already have that back. I'm guessing they will have a ton of backs compete in camp and see which ones they can trust with the system and to stay healthy. With this draft class and with what Kubiak has said, I see the Texans taking a running back.

I agree that the back doesn't need to be taken in the first round. Though, if you look back, Clinton Portis IIRC was taken in the second round so the Denver system isn't absolutely against high round picks going to running backs.

Thanks all for reading and commenting,
Steph

2-07-2008 @ 11:34AM

Steph,

I think this off season signings/draft will be more indicative of where we are, were we're going, and we're some of those player's might be in front of our nose!

It's hard to guage our "current" roster and players, with the M.A.S.H. unit we suffered last year. All (or most) will be evaluated and brought to contract talks, O.T.A.'s, training camp, or cut. But, those injured player's are the "great" unknown and what, if any, affect it'll have on their abilities, this coming season. Add to the equation the hiring of Gibbs and Rhodes, what do they bring to the table?

Kubes and Sherman tried the hybrid ZBS/power running game with minimal results and now, with our current player's and their history that we know about, can they morph into a "true" ZBS player or do we look elewhere?

Does Green, Taylor, Walker, or even Dayne perform the RB system, with this scheme?

I guess my question is, do we have now, the players to impliment the "true" ZBS? Do we tinker with last years "hybrid"? And with our M.A.S.H coming back healthy(?), how many part's are we missing?

I value your opinion and appreciate your great work on this blog and other message boards!

Eric

2-07-2008 @ 11:41AM

Xetuoh-

Agree with your first paragraph completely.

Even Denver doesn't run only ZBS, but the Sherman/Kubiak hybrid blocking is dead. We won't see that at all. It is going to be the Gibbs system. (You don't bring in Van Gogh to rollerpaint your walls).

The current collection of RBs would not be ideal for the scheme, either due to age, injury or size. I will be writing a ZBS running back post soonishly.

And DB and X, thanks for the kind words. We have to figure out a way to get through the offseason somehow. Learning more about what to expect makes watching the games more entertaining.
-Steph

2-07-2008 @ 4:24PM

jared said...

I have to say that I you could still see a lineman drafted in the first round. See George Foster in 03' it happens. I don't think they will adress guard or center until much later. But a starting left tackle is worth a first round pick at least in the games I watched last year that was their biggest need. CB is deep this year and so is RB but after second round there is no other great oline tackles who could step in and start right away. I would rather see Dayne back out there running slow as can be before I watch Salaam get Matt Schaub killed again

2-07-2008 @ 4:27PM

jared-

Point well taken re: Foster, but I think they will put their resources elsewhere and hope for Gibbs magic.

I do think they have no fear of taking a best player available, as last year's draft showed.

Thanks for the great comment,
Steph

2-08-2008 @ 7:53AM

Steph,

How much of the Giant's success will be mirrored by other teams, hoping for lightening in a bottle? With that I mean, focus on the Dline and not so much on the Oline.

I don't mean to envoke the "magic 8 ball look at the upcoming draft or FA but, in your opinion, how will these change (if any) those dynamics.

Eric

2-08-2008 @ 8:49AM

Eric-

I think the Texans are going to the target the guys they are going to target without respect to how teams did in the playoffs.

That being said, probably the biggest surprise of the Super Bowl was the play of the Patriots' offensive line. The unsung hero of the Patriots' dynasty was their offensive line coach who has taken projects on the line and made Brady one of the least sacked guys in the league up until the Super Bowl.

And funny how a bum ankle can affect the timing of a quarterback. You have to give up for the pass rush of the Giants defense, because they've made a lot of quarterbacks struggle, but Brady wasn't himself, and paid for it. And still almost won the game with an offensive line built from scraps. (but by someone with a great eye for talent and teaching talent).

I'm fine with the Texans loading up on defense because I have confidence that on the offensive side of the ball their system and coaching will find a way. Unlike the Giants analogy, I have no confidence in the Texans defensive coordinator to be able to bring the heat that the Giants DC does, because he doesn't have a track record of ever doing it.

Love to be wrong about the defense, however.
-Steph

2-10-2008 @ 12:50PM

veronica said...

I really enjoy reading your blog...I don't know as much about football as I would like, but you present things in a clear, concise manner that builds upon what I know and what I question...thanks!

2-12-2008 @ 5:19PM

Double Barrel Darrell said...

Nice read, TC! I'm forwarding this link to all my Texans buddies and family members. It will definitely help them understand what we're doing on offense. Thanks for taking the time to write! ~ DB