I think that's a big part of it. But, I also think Alex Gibbs' attitude philosophy about running the same play over and over set them back. I also blame Shanny and Kubiak for not being stronger leaders. Anyway, I feel strongly that teams overplayed the zone runs... essentially, beating the OLmen into the gap right after the snap of the ball. They were able to do this, I believe, because Schaub isn't athletic enough to threaten the opposite edge with the bootleg. The solution, I think, is to run some counters. On a counter run, the OL would take a false step in unison, then change direction and block the overpursuing linemen/LBs. This is different than simply having the RB cut to the backside on a Zone run because the entire blocking scheme and run is set up to punish the defense in overpursuit and thereby create a huge, predetermined running lane. In a zone play, ideally, running room can be created by overpursuit as well but the running back has to see and find the hole and there is very little blocking assistance other than a potential cut block from one of the backside linemen. Anyway, Jeremy Rice from the Chronicle argues quite well that a few designed counter runs would discourage opposing defenses from jumping into the gaps so quickly on our zone runs and therefore allow the OL to make more of the hook and reach blocks so essential in the ZBS. Imagine being the LG on a zone stretch run to the right this season. Often his job is to cross the face of the DT lined up between him and Chris Myers and cut him down. Difficult as that is under normal conditions, imagine if the DT was coached to explode into the front side gap as soon as he sees a step right from the RB, Center, or QB. At that point, the LG's job is almost impossible. I think that was happening a lot last season.
Remember, most of Alex Gibbs' success running this system has been with the following QBs: John Elway, Jake Plummer, Mike Vick. My guess is that NFL DCs reviewing our '08 offense, realized that Schaub was too slow and unathletic to consistently hit the edge on a bootleg. They probably also discovered that he was a better QB in the pocket. As a result, many of these teams simply decided to sell out on our Zone plays since there was no penalty for their overpursuit... other than the end around, which we've not run well either.
