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The importance of Athleticism for Texans OTs ?

N

nunusguy

Hall of Fame
****************** 40 ******short-shuttle********3-cone-drill*****
Jim Thomas------------- 4.92-------4.88------------------7.95------------
Levi Brown---------------5.40-------4.88------------------7.87--------------Joe Staley---------------4.82--------4.12-----------------7.09------------**************************************************************Doug Free---------------5.19---------4.53-------------------7.38-----------Adam Koets--------------5.08-------4.47-------------------7.44----------- *********************************************************
In the first group are the 3 top OTs in this Draft with their 40, shuttle, and 3-cone times. The shuttle & 3-cone drills are the most important in measuring quickness, reaction, agilitity or just general athleticism. Notice the poorest shuttle and 3-cone times are by the top 2 OT candidates, Thomas & Brown. The very athletic Joe Staley is a greyhound by comparison. The last 2 OTs, Doug Free & Adam Koets, are like Staley very athletic. The more athletic tackles are the ones thought to be best qualified to be effective in the Zone-Blocking schemes that the texans use.
Something to keep in mind when we see which OLineman, if any, the Texans draft this weekend.
 
Why are more athletic tackles beeter suited to the ZBS? And how do you explain Spencer's earely succes, espically in light of the fact that he is bigger and no where near as athletic as Staley, and Coats.

The only number I could find quickly is his forty at a blazing 5.25, with a 1.85 10 yard split. Compared to Brown with a 1.85, Thomas with a 1.75, Free with a 1.78, Koats with a 1.68, and Staley with a 1.64.

I think there is a misconceptionthat tackles have to be small and atlehtic to work in this O. As long as the OT can shed a block and get to the 2nd lever when needed to he can work here.
 
Hoth-Boy said:
Why are more athletic tackles beeter suited to the ZBS? And how do you explain Spencer's earely succes, espically in light of the fact that he is bigger and no where near as athletic as Staley, and Coats.
The only number I could find quickly is his forty at a blazing 5.25, with a 1.85 10 yard split. Compared to Brown with a 1.85, Thomas with a 1.75, Free with a 1.78, Koats with a 1.68, and Staley with a 1.64.
I think there is a misconceptionthat tackles have to be small and atlehtic to work in this O. As long as the OT can shed a block and get to the 2nd lever when needed to he can work here.
Click to expand...

"zone blocking teams need faster, more athletic, quick on their feet linemen, as opposed to the traditional "road grader" types. Size, while hardly being the only consideration, plays a big part. Generally, the bigger the O linemen, the less agile and athletic he is."
**
"When looking for players to fit a zone blocking scheme, some workout numbers become more important: the short shuttle and 3 cone drills. Faster, more agile and athletic linemen are what teams like Denver look for. "
http://www.draftdaddy.com/prospects/OLschemes.cfm
***********************************
Charles Spencer is one of those exceptions where a larger, even bulky guy also happen to have the necessary quickness that the ZB requires.
And as stated above, the shuttle & 3-cone drills are more meaningful for measureing ZB skills than straight sprint speed.
 
It sounds simple, but only through countless repetitions in practice can the zone blocking system be successful. The five linemen must be able to think as one inside the chaotic trenches, where enormous bodies fly at them from every direction. Their reads and reactions must resemble that of a group of synchronized swimmers, or else the play most likely fizzles.
Click to expand...

http://bears.scout.com/2/632795.html

I find this to be a better explantion of the ZBS, seems the ability to make teh right read is much more valuable then athletic prowess. It's not like the LBs are 20 yards away.
 
An exercise I did last draft and this one is to Google combine numbers and compare some of the candidate tackles' numbers to those for tackles the Texans have tried out at one time or another. They show some surprising results - especially the shuttle and three cone drills.
 
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