Pats switching to zone blocking

[Box_O_Rocks]

Well bottom line is that the Pats HAVE decided to switch to the zone blocking scheme. Chances are Maroney will have MORE success in this scheme, as should our other runningbacks. What is more important however is how well the Patriots offensive linemen learn and implement this scheme imo. Because they are the ones upfront that will have to be doing the dirty work.

As for your criticism of Maroney's performance in 2006, yes he does deserve some criticism. But I am willing to bet that he can improve in 2007, and his being healthy will also help. Am I alone in thinking that Maroney is going to be a very good to great feature back in 2007? He will split his 3rd down carries with Faulk and his Sammy Morris as a backup so hopefully he won't be too worn down as the season progresses. I love the way the kid runs, if he can get rid of that indecisiveness at the line he is going to be a lot better this year, count on it.

No question, the kid has the raw talent and when he gets an open lane he makes people pay. I want him to succeed, I want evey Pats' player to succeed. If the Pats are switching to a zone scheme then his ability to read the blocking and pick his hole shouldn't be an issue. How the 2006 apologists can turn this into bashing is a study in human perversity.

I don't have any great concern about the OL picking up this scheme, maybe it's their position coach.

 

[SpiderFox53]

Count me in the group that thinks most of the dancing came about from LM favoring his ribs. The dancing didn't show until after the injury, at least not as much as after.

I think he'll be fine.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

take away Dillons 35 yarder

Dillon would have: 6 carries 13 yards
Maroney: 8 carries 13 yards...not big of a difference. Dillon got his yards early on..thats when u try to get a feel for the other team. Maroney struggled in playoffs but regular season he was fine..he played well early and after injury until the playoffs which against Maroney was playing more hurt than Dillon

go ahead give criticism or "think it" but its not all Maroney's fault and but we've been through this over and over..so lets just drop the Maroney "WTF in PLAYOFFS" crap

You've been itchier than a dog with fleas lately. Just what is my record for "bashing" players around here?

 

[Tunescribe]

The line has been man-blocking succesfully for far longer than Maroney has been around. It's him, not them.

That must be why they're tearing up the playbook and going to a zone-blocking scheme then, right?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

That must be why they're tearing up the playbook and going to a zone-blocking scheme then, right?

Care to rethink that question?

 

[Remix 6]

That must be why they're tearing up the playbook and going to a zone-blocking scheme then, right?

i think people are forgeting this

Dillon:
2004: 4.7 ypc
2005: 3.5 ypc
2006: 4.1 ypc

Faulk:
2003:3.6 ypc
2004: 4.7 ypc
2005: 2.8 ypc
2006: 4.9 ypc

Smith:
2003:3.5 ypc

Maroney
4.3 ypc

he did better than Dillon this year and yet people say "well Dillon did it, why couldnt Maroney?"

blame all other years besides 2004 on injuries but Maroney was injured this year aswell..so?

 

[Tunescribe]

Care to rethink that question?

Why? It wasn't addressed to you. (Edit): Wait, I can see how this was misunderstood. Yes, they are changing the scheme because it accommodates Maroney's style and will maximize his potential. Yet, I still place little if any blame on him for his carries that yielded zero or negative yards because of ALLEGED indecisiveness.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Why? It wasn't addressed to you. (Edit): Wait, I can see how this was misunderstood. Yes, they are changing the scheme because it accommodates Maroney's style.

Well said! Let's hope the kid runs the NFL into the ground and all the way to Glendale.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I agree 1,000 percent on this. Those here who have criticized Maroney for "dancing" at the line of scrimmage don't know what they're talking about. He's never been a power back who puts his head down and pushes the pile, his style is to work in space -- even a little space -- and when it's not there, he's not effective. Did PFW attribute this news to anyone in particular?

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=332226&postcount=2

Yeah, you're a visionary.

 

[Tunescribe]

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=332226&postcount=2

Yeah, you're a visionary.

Your mistaken assumption is that there were holes there for him to hit when the "dancing" occurred. Good call on the need for zone blocking, though.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

This move should benefit Maroney and the O-line as well. Our O-line isn't that big but pretty athletic, might take some time for the O-line to get used to the new scheme.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Gee, I could have sworn I heard BB basically say this himself on WEEI is his season wrap up last year.

It's part of the reason Corey isn't here any more. Bill realized that trying to force a square peg into a round hole wasn't a great long term strategy, and his round peg was running on fumes. They tried to implement complimentary schemes in TC last summer, but in pre season they realized that because of the personnel changes it would entail given this Oline's composition, it was just too confusing to manage alternate blocking schemes in game situations. So they went with the system that the players had the most familiarity with and that benefitted the veteran Dillon the most and hoped that he would be highly productive and the kid could adapt sufficiently to be reasonable productive in his rookie season without getting hurt. Didn't exactly work out swimmingly down the stretch.

Thanks Mo - you pretty much confirmed what my thoughts were on the subject - that the switch makes sense and that asking an OL to have different blocking schemes for different RBs makes sense in theory but doesn't work in reality.

Still, it seems to me that there are always goaline situations where a straight ahead pound through RB like Dillon is still a great benefit.

That, however, is almost a Special Teams blocking situation - and is one that I think they could still use if they happen to draft an RB that can play that role... heck... Richard Seymour can probably play that role on the goal line!

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Your mistaken assumption is that there were holes there for him to hit when the "dancing" occurred. Good call on the need for zone blocking, though.

Sure I was mistaken

And you *know* this how? ...Because you're a visionary?

 

[OhExaulted1]

First off, the Pats never stick to one "scheme" on offense or defense. Their is a basic philosophy of keeping your oppnents off-guard but I've seen everything from the 4-3 in a SB to no DL's and like 7 LB's all moving around taking no discernable position before the snap (against Jets?).

Granted the OL has had a primary philosophy toward the running game blocking for bruisers like Dillon and A.Smith (who did a solid but unspectacular job). They've shown they aren't afraid to run a draw with Faulk in the shotgun. They run screens, end arounds, reverses. Linemen pull, trap, misdirect.

My point is Maroney has a different style. The smart thing to do is adapt to it. Does it mean Maroney will never run a wham play? Bet he runs quite a few of those plays. The OL needs to figure out Maroney the same way Maroney needs to figure out what works best for him on the field behind this OL and TE and FB blockers.

"Zone Blocking" looks good on paper, but only translates so much on the field. You still have to figure out the opponents D. Where the pressure's coming from, who's playing run, who's dropping into coverage. Coaching and scheming mean nothing without the ability to adapt to the situation. Excecution is great when you predict the other teams reaction, but with 22 players on the field anything can happen. Offensive Lineman make many key plays outside the "scheme", we just overlook them.

 

[Tunescribe]

Sure I was mistaken

And you *know* this how? ...Because you're a visionary?

No, because I watched the games.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

No, because I watched the games.

I watch too so there you go. Unless you're going to claim to be an authority on NFL stategy, I guess that's where the claims should end don't ya think?

 

[Tunescribe]

I watch too so there you go. Unless you're going to claim to be an authority on NFL stategy, I guess that's where the claims should end don't ya think?

Well, I don't believe being an authority on NFL strategy was necessary to observe that the blocking scheme was unsuited to Maroney's particular running style, or that his alleged "dancing" occurred when there was no hole to plunge into.

 

[spacecrime]

I'm confused, Maroney gained 745 yds splitting time with Dillon and missed 2 games, how did he not adjust to that blocking scheme?

You're not confused, just not reading carefully and taking issue with something no one said.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Well, I don't believe being an authority on NFL strategy was necessary to observe that the blocking scheme was unsuited to Maroney's particular running style, or that his alleged "dancing" occurred when there was no hole to plunge into.

Running style or not, he's paid to run the ball. If that means he runs downhill because that's what the scheme calls for, then he does it. Others found holes. I also stated in my post about zone blocking being suited to his style but that doesn't excuse him from hitting the hole. That being said, when he found space he was exceptional but when you need a few yards, you square your shoulders and find a seam like Dillon did so often.

My job requires me to use a variety of tools and techniques and the situation dictates which tools and techniques I use regardless of my comfort level. It is no different for him.

If and this is just in a rumor stage, the Pats do go to zone blocking, it will allow him to play to his strengths but that doesn't mean that he gets a free pass on situations where he could have toughed out a few yards. I like Maroney a lot and he was productive last year but if I have to get 3 tough yards and I can have Dillon and our current bocking scheme or Maroney and zone blocking, I'm going with old, slow, Dillon. If it's first and 10 with the same combination, I'm taking Maroney. I'd like to be able to say I'd take Maroney in both situations.

 

[Tunescribe]

Running style or not, he's paid to run the ball. If that means he runs downhill because that's what the scheme calls for, then he does it. Others found holes. I also stated in my post about zone blocking being suited to his style but that doesn't excuse him from hitting the hole. That being said, when he found space he was exceptional but when you need a few yards, you square your shoulders and find a seam like Dillon did so often.

My job requires me to use a variety of tools and techniques and the situation dictates which tools and techniques I use regardless of my comfort level. It is no different for him.

If and this is just in a rumor stage, the Pats do go to zone blocking, it will allow him to play to his strengths but that doesn't mean that he gets a free pass on situations where he could have toughed out a few yards. I like Maroney a lot and he was productive last year but if I have to get 3 tough yards and I can have Dillon and our current bocking scheme or Maroney and zone blocking, I'm going with old, slow, Dillon. If it's first and 10 with the same combination, I'm taking Maroney. I'd like to be able to say I'd take Maroney in both situations.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you're saying here, other than your assumption that Maroney's decision-making was at fault for taking losses while looking for daylight. And that definitely is an assumption, as we don't know for sure how he was coached to approach the line of scrimmage. I can recall several plays off the top of my head where he ripped off big gainers away from where the play apparently was designed to go.