Review of our embarrising performance - Page 2

da Bull · #21 09-23-2008, 02:05 PM

So after the game, why was Haynesworth not complaining about all the "illegal" cut blocks the Texans were laying on him? I thought the cut blocks were the great equalizer for a smaller, athletic line. Are we incapable of such blocking or are we just "too nice" to employ this technique? Maybe I just dreamt that cut blocking was an integral part of the ZBS.

nero THE zero · #22 09-23-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da Bull

So after the game, why was Haynesworth not complaining about all the "illegal" cut blocks the Texans were laying on him? I thought the cut blocks were the great equalizer for a smaller, athletic line. Are we incapable of such blocking or are we just "too nice" to employ this technique? Maybe I just dreamt that cut blocking was an integral part of the ZBS.

I'd venture a guess that the system is still fresh and our line is still learning it. Just because Bob McNair doesn't allow the team to draft and sign people with questionable character doesn't mean our line is incapable of cut blocks.

It's a tough system that takes time to learn. Remember, this was only our second game.

da Bull · #23 09-23-2008, 02:24 PM

I understand that the system (ZBS) is new to some degree (Gibbs), but our line has at least partly been using it the past three years. Also, Meyers should be totally familiar with the system having been in Denver the last couple of years.

I was being somewhat sarcastic, but if there was one defensive lineman out there that we needed to practice cut blocking it was Haynesworth. Even a poor cut block causes him to holdup for a moment and go around or over the top. We didn't slow him down all day....only his physical conditioning did.

papabear · #24 09-23-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da Bull

So after the game, why was Haynesworth not complaining about all the "illegal" cut blocks the Texans were laying on him? I thought the cut blocks were the great equalizer for a smaller, athletic line. Are we incapable of such blocking or are we just "too nice" to employ this technique? Maybe I just dreamt that cut blocking was an integral part of the ZBS.

the cut block usually comes on the back side of the play. It's tough to get Haynesworth (or Casey Hampton, or John Henderson, etc) on a cut block when he's almost instantaneously pushing whoever is supposed to be blocking him 3yds behind the line.

I actually haven't noticed that much cut blocking at all though. Against Pitt I was having to force myself to watch, and against Tenn. I was forced to watch it at a bar since I don't have power. It was fun, but its a lot harder to actually pay attention to detail. Maybe I'm just missing it. Either way, it looks to me like if a teams DT's can get a push upfield it throws off the whole zone scheme. It keeps the lineman from getting to the second level and muddies up the runners decision for where the hole will be...if he even has time to look for a hole before he gets hit.

We have three new starters on the line, and even though one of them, Myers, is the most experienced with the new scheme we knew it would take some time for them to gel as a group. I think we will see continued improvement, but I hope Gibbs and Kubiak are flexible enough to make adjustments to the scheme to counter the adjustments the league has already made against it.

Roy P · #25 09-23-2008, 04:01 PM

I'm wondering if a Michael Oher and Duke Robinson draft might improve our OL. Maybe even a Phil Loadholt. Are these guys "athletic" enough to play in a Gibbs system? I bet they are physical enough to create a hole to run through.

jppaul · #26 09-23-2008, 10:45 PM

I like Oher, he's got some serious athleticism.

KJ3 · #27 09-24-2008, 07:20 AM

http://www.newerascouting.com/profil...ile.php?id=166

i gotta say, i wouldn't mind moving our 1st round LT over to guard for this massive human being. 4.9 40 for a 6' 6'' 325ish dude? that's crazy on ice.

painekiller · #28 09-24-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ3

http://www.newerascouting.com/profil...ile.php?id=166

i gotta say, i wouldn't mind moving our 1st round LT over to guard for this massive human being. 4.9 40 for a 6' 6'' 325ish dude? that's crazy on ice.

Well then we will have to be picking top 5 to get this kid, if he stays healthy.

BTW if the season ended today, the Texans would be the top pick, but after the Colts game our schedule lightens up considerably, so a top 5 pick is most likely not happening.

NBT · #29 10-02-2008, 02:41 PM

I am totally bummed with the way we have played after 3 games. If it takes us 3 games to get started every year we will never realize our goal. It is not altogether the Oline and the ZBS, it is not all the quality of the personnel, it is mostly the lack of scheming and playing the same players too long. We have backups. We are going to have to use sooner or later, so why not get 'em into the scheme sooner rather that go through any more of this mediocre crap?