Quote:
Originally Posted by Aspengc8
explain to me how inside zone blocking changes when a QB is under center vs a shotgun.
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We don't do much inside zone blocking, first of all.
It has more to do with the personnel groups and the actual formation. Shotgun usually has a single back set, with no lead blocker for the running back.
I formation has a fullback as the lead blocker.
A typical bread-and-butter play from the I-formation might have a name like "I right 32 iso". That means an I formation with the right side being the strong side -- the tight end and the flanker (the wide receiver a yard behind the line of scrimmage) are lined up to the right, with a split end (the wide receiver on the line of scrimmage) on the left. The 32 means the halfback (or the 3-back) is getting the ball and running through the 2-hole (between the center and right guard). "Iso" is short for isolation, meaning the fullback is leading the running back through the hole and engaging the middle linebacker in an isolation, one-on-one block. (You know, the kind of block where the MNF audience heard Ray Lewis complain that he was being double-teamed, but was just getting his ass kicked.)
The offensive linemen block the players in front of them, with each tackle taking a defensive end, a guard blocking one defensive tackle alone and the other guard and the center double-teaming the other defensive tackle. The tight end blocks the strongside linebacker, and the two receivers might run a flag or a hook route to take the cornerbacks out of the play.
A play like I right 32 ISO won't produce a lot of long runs, but that's not what it's designed for. If the right personnel executes it properly, it will accomplish one of two things: Either it will consistently allow the offense to gain four yards a pop (and an offense that can do that will march right down the field) or it will force the defense to bring the strong safety close to the line of scrimmage for run support. When TV announcers describe this, they call it "eight in the box, " and it means the defense is susceptible to the other bread-and-butter play of the I-formation: the play-action pass.
When the offense sees the strong safety playing run, it becomes clear that it's time to run the play action. The linemen and fullback have the same blocking responsibilities and try to make it look like a running play. The quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back, but instead of giving up the ball he goes into his seven-step drop. With the strong safety playing run support, the cornerback has no help in coverage on the flanker, who becomes the primary receiver on the play. This could be Hill's bread and butter. It's made for Mahomes to Hill.
The 3rd and 1 where Mahomes did a play fake and flicked the ball to Sausage out of the 22 personnel I formation was PERFECTION - the defense bit so hard on the play fake...
There's so much versatility in the I formation for this offense.
Let's talk a little more about the fullback, Sausage, who usually lines up about four yards behind the quarterback, with the running back usually about three yards further behind. At seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, the running back can easily survey the field to see where the defensive players are lining up, and he can get a full head of steam so that he's at full speed when he hits the line of scrimmage. The running back also has time to watch blocks develop and can find cutback lanes.
That's why running from under center is better than running from shotgun, for starters. The personnel and formations lend themselves better to more efficient running.