Originally posted by oldman9er:
Originally posted by Kolohe:
After thinking about it, I think this O-line just needs more time together, benching Rachal may also help. But we have pretty much all the tools to help in this Zone Blocking scheme. At first I wanted to lay blame on Solari, hes got just as much if not more knowledge than just about anyone in the NFL when it comes to Zone Blocking, probably why he was kept on the staff. Two players that I was thinking of that didn't fit a ZB Scheme Iupati and A. Davis, bot hare overly big for ZB and would seem better in a MB Scheme. But then again, both Iupati and Davis can move pretty well for big guys I think they just need more time in the system. I'd also love to see A. Davis and Staley switch places, seems Staley does more Man-blocking than the rest of the O-line at times, but gets beat pretty bad by the bull-rush at times. Davis has good feet and strength for the left-side for speed-rushers, I don't feel the same way about Staley. I feel Staley would be better off with help from the TE and OG.
We're not really running all that much ZB though. In fact, I'd dare say we are running a majority of man.
I watch the OL a lot and sometimes I can tell when it is zone and when it is man, others not so much. From what I can see, guys are getting beat in both types of blocks.
A good part of this has to be coaching but some of it is the players themselves. I believe Davis has improved a lot and has more room to grow. Iupati seems to have hit a wall on pass protect. He is just not picking up stunts and blitzes well. That SEEMS to be making him more tentative in run blocking than he was last year. Maybe he is just pressing. In any case, he has a ways to go before he hits the Pro Bowl level some ascribe to him. Staley seems destined to be a perennial journeyman who has not reached his potential. Injuries have slowed down his progress but sometimes the injuries are what take away the potential. We don't know. Center and RG are problem areas. Rachal clearly isn't the answer and Goodwin seems to be showing why NO was willing to let him walk - he is nothing more than average, at least in what he has shown to date. We have seen plenty of Snyder to know he is what he is. That leaves us with Boone, who is backing up at tackle - the two positions that are relatively secure, and Kilgore who I believe should begin to see some PT at RG.
Again, this is still Mike Singletary's team - a team built around huge bulldozer-type OL whose job it is to blow open holes for a power runner. As you suggest, some of them may be just too big and cumbersome to provide the pass protect and wide run blocking support the Harbaugh offense needs. I don't know that to be the case with Davis as foot speed and agility doesn't seem to be the issue. With him it is more technique.
I suspect we will see lighter, more agile OL in the near future. Rachal is clearly gone after this year and a new center must be in the works somewhere. I liked what I saw of Kilgore. Person didn't seem like much more than a backup level player. That tells me this team needs a center at least.
[ Edited by dj43 on Sep 30, 2011 at 11:09 AM ]