A pass 1st offense weekly lament

[MTK]

We've had better balance this year vs. last year, and coming into this game we were right around the league average for pass to run ratio.

[mlmpetert]

I completely agree with you 30 gut. But the problem is that we are a run first team when we are in the open field and then a pass first team when we are in the red zone or short yardage situations. Someone brought zone blocking and its ineffectiveness in the red zone a week or 2 ago, I said something about it this morning and then I read this 30 mins ago:

Texans red zone woes not a new problem | ProFootballTalk

I am really starting to doubt the effectiveness of a zone blocking system as the only tool in the running game's shed. I just dont think it works in tight spaces like the redzone and short yardage situations when the defense plays a little tighter to the line.

Every team that solely uses zone blocking has these issues, the only ones get away with it in the red zone (green bay & Indy) are the ones with great QBs. I think Rex is a serviceable QB but i dont think he is a great QB. The other thing helping Indy and GB is that the offense is very fast passed, obviously Indy with Manning running an exclusive no huddle offense is the fastest in the game.

We are constantly going to be forced to abandon the run in the redzone, which happens to be the most dangerous time to throw a pass. The redzone passing danger is compounded by the fact that we have a QB with a gun slinger's attitude but with a sling shot's capabilities.

I like the zone blocking scheme we have and think its going to make our offense look the best it has been in years, but I think we are in for a long season and possible years of getting disappointed for failing to take advantage of redzone opportunities.

I think part of the reason why Beck was given the job to lose was primarily because of his mobility, not necessarily that he was deemed a better passer. When the field is truncated and we abandon the run opposing defenses would only be forced to stay close to the line of scrimmage if a mobile passer is in the backfield. Grossman is literally slower than I am and his ball protection is just as bad; when he runs he is a liability.

Unless theres always a rb/fb/te blocking first then serving as a check down option (I think we saw some of this vs Arizona), defenses don’t have to be worried about Grossman taking off and picking up a first down so they can “cheat” in their drop back protections. This was especially true last night when Dallas had all the time in the world to make major substitutions.

I don’t put this on Grossman, and honestly i think he could work out for us, I put this on Kyle. We cant completely rely on a zone blocking system unless we have a mobile passer and/or a elite passer in my opinion. I think we have the best oline weve had in years so why not challenge them with a couple man blocking schemes? Also a faster offensive tempo could help immensely. Screen passes are probably an immediate fix. Unfortunately Chris Cooley taking handoffs probably isn’t the answear……