| 16 August 2009
I went through the first offensive and defensive drive yesterday to take a look at the zone blocking and mainly assess how the lines were doing.
The good news is that it looks like everyone knows how the zone blocking scheme works, with the right guys getting up field to contribute to J.J.'s first down run.
And there was plenty of good news to go around on the defensive side of things.
The bad news is that Rookie Max Unger and second year TE John Carlson could use a little more work. Unger destroyed two of the four plays to end the drive.
Offense
1st Drive
1. Running play. Carlson eats up the linebacker. Schmitt hustles to the left side to deliver the block that makes the play. Spencer, Locklear getting upfield to block. First down Julius Jones. Textbook zone blocking.
1. Ugly zone blocking there. Unger runs into two of his teammates, including John Owens who was squared up on his man and overpowering him. Unger knocks Owens off his block, which seals J.J.’s fate. Both Carlson and Sims are flattened on the play. Carlson slipped and was pushed to the ground.
2. Three WR’s right, one left. Carlson runs a short cross five yards and splits the linebackers for the quick eight-yard catch and run.
3. Running play, third and a couple. Carlson goes in motion and sets up to block on the left. Unger is flattened as the play starts, and his man makes first contact with Duckett. But, Duckett still could have made the first down if Carlson had blocked anyone after a safety ran up to make the final stop on Duckett. All Carlson could do was push the safety in the back as the safety helped hold Duckett inches short of the first down.
Defense
1st drive
1. First play of the game was impressive. Brandon Mebane draws the double team from the right tackle and right guard, but pushes both men way into the backfield right next to Rivers. Meanwhile LaDanian Tomlinson is left alone against Redding and chop blocks him. Redding jumps and stumbles over him, and then quickly turns his attention to Rivers, who's been flushed forward by Cole and Mebane pushing back their men. Redding gets the sack. Kearny was double teamed by the left tackle and right guard while Cole took on the center, getting about as much push as Mebane, but came off his man to help bring down Rivers along with Redding.
2. Running play. The Chargers line gets a good push. Mebane gets the double team and is sent a step back. Cole is moved a couple steps. The linebackers make the play here as they swarm L.T.’s point of attack for a two-yard gain. Curry and Hill blow up the hole. L.T. eventually runs into his own man with Cole blocking the way. Mebane was taken to the ground and may have gotten a hand on L.T.
3. Hill shows blitz but drops into coverage. Seattle rushes three – Kerney, Tapp and Mebane. Kerney tries to rush around the edge at RDE but is eventually taken down as he tries to circle around the pocket. Tapp fights against a double team while Mebane pushes the pocket back into Rivers’ face. Both Lucas and Wilson have excellent positioning on their men, and Rivers tries a pass up the middle. It hits the receiver, but Tatupu and Grant lay him out to force the incompletion. Three and out, baby.
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