So what in your opinion is the main problem with our rushing game? Is it Jedd Fisch's new zone blocking scheme? Is it simply depleting O-line talent? Or our RB talent? Or even our passing game failures which is causing opposing defenses to load the box every down.

 

 

 

For me, I think we have to use the process of elimination here. Toby Gerhart was extremely successful in Minnesota so that kinda takes out RB talent. During the first half of the season opener, Chad Henne turned into Dr. Jekyll and made some great long throws. Our running game didn't exactly do much even during that small period of passing success. Check that one off. So we're down to players or plays. Oline talent vs. Oline scheme.

 

The Zone blocking scheme traditionally favors pass blocking more than run blocking. Its designed to make the QB either roll out or step up within 2-3 seconds of the snap since the O-line is blocking an area not necessarily a player. In my opinion, It fully guarantee's a QB to have atleast 2-3 everytime unless an Olinemen gets manhandled because a defensive linemen is always having to encounter an Olinemen no matter where he goes. The running aspect gets hurt because the Olinemen typically still stay to their zone unless the whole line shifts but it gives fewer "holes" to run through and allows opposing linebackers to fill the few holes you actually have.

 

As far as Oline talent, Outside we have Joeckel, Paztor, and bradfield. Paztor is injured. Bradfield is just as Dr. Jekyll/Mr hyde as Henne. Joeckel however seems to be doing his job the most consistently. Inside, We got Beadles, Linder, and Mclendon. Linder and Mclendon are struggling bad. Linder is still a rookie and Mclendon is just absolutely terrible. Beadles is about as average as we get.

 

In conclusion, I'd say Zone blocking is 50% of the issue, Oline talent is 40%, and 10% is our lack of accurate downfield passing.

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