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Deadpool
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RockRam
I know that the kind of Oline player must fit the kind of system that is going to be run.
So, this brings up some questions.
1) Just because we change Oline coaches does this mean we're changing systems/blocking schemes?
2) If we are changing to something different, then what is it?
3) With the expected systems/blocking schemes, what are the attributes for LOT and Center?
4) And finally, then what players in the draft would be scheme fits?
If we can't make some assumptions about questions 1, 2, and 3, then there is no way to reasonably guess about the answer to question 4.
Any help here would be appreciated.
1. No, not at all
2. Well, if it does change, they would add more man/gap blocking
3. Zone running inside or outside, require more coordination within the OL, and they need to be more athletic, at least the ability to slide laterally smoothly. If there is more man/gap running, then power or strength, whatever you want to call it is required. So lighter/ more agile for zone, bigger/stronger for man/gap
4. depends on what scheme you are talking about? If you go into my big board, at the end of every OL synopsis I mention what scheme they work best in IMO. Some work well in both, I mention their strength. Not all, but I'd think half. If I mention athlete, think zone, if I mention power, think man/gap
Example: 47. Creed Humphrey - OC - Oklahoma - 6'-4" 315 lbs. - OL leader and makes all the line calls, A better athlete than he gets credit for IMO. Good power/strength and is a gamer.
OC in power or zone.Stanford the last few years I have watched them, have run some wide open offense stuff with OZS blocking, and they have manned up and ran good old fashioned Big 10 down your throat running. Including the use of a fullback. Its why I keep adding a FB at the end of my mock draft. I do think McVay would like to run the ball like Shanny does in SF and they have a top shelf FB. McVay even drafted a FB his first draft in LA. I think they will continue a trend of combining power and zone.
Yes, thanks for the breakdown of Stanford. I documented throughout the 2020 season how the Rams needed to vary their blocking schemes and during the second half of the season, they did exactly that. They didn't pull or trap as often as I wanted but developing a good power scheme takes more time than what they could do on the fly. Instead, they increased the duo blocks considerably.
To answer the OP's question, it's not worth drafting an offensive lineman that can't do both. McVay longs fo be multiple in scheme. One of the problems with being a zone only scheme is what to do in short yardage and in the red zone when you have to overpower the defense and not dance like you can when a defense can be burned deep or screened out by being too aggressive.
Big Whit is a good example of both power and ZBS technician. Noteboom, however, has the characteristics of a zone linemen but lacks power. Edwards is versatile enough and has a chance to develop into what they need. Blythe simply can't anchor but moved well enough to run zone. Corbett has sufficient power but his technique seems to break down when he's asked to make adjustments in space. Havenstein can pile drive with the best of them but is frequently beaten around the edge. Demby sucks and needs to go. And I know others are high on Anchrum, Brewer, and Shelton but I haven't seen enough to know if they are even better than Evans who I think has a ceiling somewhere near average.
I don't study college players so I can't help with draft evals. All I can say is for this offense to reach its potential, the linemen MUST be a decent combination of athleticism, power, and brains.
