I have seen a lot of knee-jerk type of posts stating that Callahan wanted out, and that's why he didn't sign an extension. Has anyone considered the reason we brought Cally here in the first place? To install a pretty complicated zone blocking scheme. Now, he's moving laterally to Dallas in the same capacity he was in with the Jets, and the Jets are reportedly bringing in Sparano, who runs a Parcells-style offense with a man blocking scheme. Less for the O-line players to learn, less limitations when signing or drafting O-linemen, less of a chance that Shonn Greene and Mark Sanchez are too dumb to remember his O-linemens' zone assignments. It's not just the O-line that has to learn the ins-and-outs of the zone scheme, it's also the rest of the offense. When we were running a zone, I was absolutely against drafting a RT in the first round. Too complicated. Now I am not so much against it, although I'd still prefer a vet.
This is a great point that I (and I'm sure many others) have overlooked. Hopefully an overall simplification of the offense in general will lead to some immediate returns from some players who were having trouble in the Schotty/Callahan offense.
This is a great post. It will benefit everyone if the offense is simplified. Rex always said you know the ground and pound is coming, but you can't stop it. I think Sparano could instill the ground and pound and make this offense much more effective. I think the discipline and ground and pound approach will also help with Rex and the offense being on the same page.
Fantastic post and I was actually planning on posting similar. Before this year the O-line scheme appeared to be more of a hybrid. It was zone..but it was almost a power zone w/ alot of "cut and go" power traps. This past year the scheme lost alot of its physical/ power roots and became more complex and more about "filling space" than attacking the opposing front 7. Should be interesting to see the transition moving forward. I think this will be good for Mr. Ducasse as well. He's the type of power lineman that Sparano loves. The "dumbed down" scheme could do wonders for his development
Ducasse is a player I had in mind when I started drafting it, but I forgot to add him in there. He could be the prime benificiary of a switch to man blocking. And if we bring in Haley as a package with Sparano... watch out Santonio Holmes. We just turned off Easy Street onto Hardcase Hill.
1. I was told Vernon Carey is a UFA. Looks like a very good fit. 2. Ducasse won't look lost like he has so far. 3. Run game will get going - that's a guarantee, I would say. 4. Who knows? Wayne Hunter may stop being the road pylon that he was the past season too.
I love bringing in Sparano. The entire attitude of the offense is going to change. Sparano will hold guys accountable, he did a pretty good job dealing with Marshall. The offense is going to be based on running people over as opposed to trying to outsmart them. Sparano as a Parcells guy prefers to run the ball and for the most part his dolphins teams limited turnovers and penalties something the Jets offense needs to do badly.
I always hated this "we're scheming more than you!" shit. Just go out and play harder. I think it will be a welcomed change for the players and fans.
I was wondering about that myself. However, the transition from a zone blocking base to man blocking base is light years more easy than the other way around. Hell, Slauson might be twice as good in a man scheme.
So I know Sparano loves big tight ends that catch and block. I wonder how the Jets front office will address the tight end position. Keller and Cumberland would probably be better utilized off the line off scrimmage. I also at this point have no idea what Keller really is. His blocking is adequate but if the Jets are really going to focus on running the ball then Keller is not the ideal every down tight end. As talented as Keller is, he doesn't seem very physical or to play very fast. I feel like a good coordinator would utilize him differently and hopefully we will see that.
He better be twice as good. The Jets were 31st in the NFL in running through his gap last season. 2.79 yards a carry isn't going to work next year. The Dolphins ranked #7 in that slot at 4.63 YPC with Richie Incognito doing his usual thug guard routine and making the opposing ends and tackles really think hard about their knees in the process.
I think it will be good for the O line but as far as Ducasse goes I don't think man blocking would have helped him much. Even when he was picking up his man in pass protection he was getting blown by.
Richie Incognito also had one of the best run blocking tackles in the league standing next to him. I get what you mean, but Brick isn't exactly much for run support unless he's pulling on a screen.
Very good analysis and thread Abyz. This thread is a gem and why I still lurk around these forums. I too hope a new scheme will be better for Vlad. I never analyzed Vlad's play that specifically. Was he getting blown up in blocks because his reaction was slow in zone or because he wasn't physical enough to block well? Will be very interesting to see the new changes.
