Browns Blocking and Logic

When Hue Jackson was hired, the punditry leaped to the conclusion that since he ran a power-blocking scheme in Cincinnati, he would do the same here.

Regardless of his personnel.

I doubted this, since from everything I'd heard about Hue, he has a cerebral cortex.

Also, he hired Kirby Wilson, who most recently ran a lot of zone (especially outside).

The retention of Joe Thomas, the necessary elevation of Cam Erving, two former Seattle Seahawks contending at right tackle, Greco and Bitonio, and drafting Shon Coleman all indicate at least a strong zone element to this run-blocking scheme (see how I analyticalizationalized that?)

Zone sounds complicated, but is actually much simpler than man.  This is very helpful to a rookie center, and a potential rookie right tackle.

It's also very helpful to an offensive line with two new additions, regardless of position.  While pass blocking can still get confusing, run-blocking is pre-programmed, regardless of what the defense does.

Also notable was the fact that no true fullback was drafted.  One real blocking tight end (Holtz) was signed as an undrafted free agent.

Remember, in 2014, the Browns (mainly Rodney Crowellfield) had a good running game running Kyle Shanahan's inside zone blocking scheme.

Bitonio and Greco ranked among the very best guards in the NFL.  Mitchell Schwartze, on the other hand, went from average in 2014 to elite in 2015 after DeFellipo altered the scheme...And isn't that interesting?

By the way, you can't be a zone running back without what they call "vision".  Isaiah Crowell excelled in this system partly because of his vision.

In a man scheme, one or two alleged holes are allegedly created in pre-designated gaps, and the back must hit them as fast as possible.

If the hole isn't THERE, he ends up running into his linemen's backs unless he has room to get outside, because...well, is he supposed to run backwards and all the way across the field?  Throw a pass?  What's he supposed to do huh?

He hits his own lineman and hopes the extra boost will help the blocker dig out the guy who's stood him up so he can get a yard or so before he's swarmed under.

In an inside zone, the running back goes shopping.  He doesn't know where his daylight will be.  He only knows which side of the field it's supposed to be on.

He relies on (wait for it...)  VISION.

Crowell has it.  He's a good zone back.  Duke Johnson is perfect for this as well; probably more dangerous than Crowell, because he's more explosive out of his cuts and can constantly threaten the edge.

People say Duke can't run inside.  That's an assumption, and is ridiculous. Many, many shorter, smaller running backs were great inside runners.  Emmitt Smith is the most famous.  Maurice Jones Drew is more recent.

Duke is strong for his size, harder to see, and uses his leverage.  He has a terrific stiff-arm and is surprisingly hard to take down (or get a clean shot at).

Still, he'd be much better off doing it in a zone scheme, where that one sudden cut and dash is built in, and the defenders can't plant and anchor.

Athletic tight ends can be effective blockers in space in a zone scheme too.  They are coverage linebacker and safety magnets, and are always in position to reach that guy in space.

Nick Dudukovich (Factory of Sadness) wrote a good article on the "old guard" vs analytics in judging the Browns off season.

I can respect the old guard and get their skepticism, but I can't fathom how they could give the Browns a "D".

Nick was a little off on Bill Polian, however.  I heard what Bill said and says about the Browns.

Polian likes the signing of RG3, calling him "salvageable".  Like most real experts, he stipulates that he's not a pocket passer, but that he expects Hue Jackson to know how to make the most of him.

As Nick says, Bill said he didn't know what the Browns would look like in game one, but that's literally all he meant.

He doesn't know how well Erving will play, who will start across from Corey Coleman, whether Haden will be back, who the other cornerback will be, who will play right tackle, etc.

Polian is dubious about analytics, but is keeping his mental door open.

This dumbass Browns Freak is embarrassing us on NFL Radio as I write, and got Zig Fercosi excited about Brian Hartline.

Zig doesn't get why he was released, since he is a rock solid possession guy, and none of the young guys has proven anything yet.

Zig, the young guys will get better faster if they get more practice reps.  The Browns won't contend in 2016, and Hartline will turn 31 during the 2017 season.

In addition to Higgins and Payton, two big tall undrafted free agent possession guys were signed, and Devalve can do much of what Hartline did, whatever you want to call him.

No, none of them has proven anything yet, but if you think all five will crap out, you're out of your mind.

Try not to over think this.