Atlanta Running Zone Read with Success (1 Viewer)

Remember Mort saying the Zone Read that Texas ran in '05 was a "one-read remedial offense" that would "never work in the NFL"? Well, the Falcons talked to Texas coaches in the off-season, and have incorporated the play into their offense. The Zone Read seems to have opened up running lanes for both Dunn and Vick, to the tune of 558 rushing yards in the first two games. The funniest part of the whole critique by Mort is that he apparently never even knew that the Zone Read is a running play, not an offense.

Falcons Run Wild

Most run-oriented teams eschew working out of the shotgun because theory holds that it limits the kinds of running plays that can be used. But the Falcons have incorporated it seamlessly and, because of that, have not had to rework their zone-blocking schemes upfront. The broadened use of the shotgun has permitted Vick to get to the perimeter on more designed plays. And Vick has improved his ball-handling -- especially a belly-type series in which he sticks the ball into Dunn's gut and hesitates with it there, as if he is maybe reading the flow of the defensive end in an option-based attack -- to the point where defenses are frozen.

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This is the zone read. Apparently the DE read is the "one read" that Mort thought the Texas qbs make on every play.

By unofficial count, the Falcons aligned in the shotgun 13 times on first-and-10 and rushed for 96 yards on 10 carries in those situations. Suddenly, you don't hear many complaints anymore about Atlanta's staff trying to pigeonhole Vick into a West Coast-style offense for which his unique skills-set isn't well suited. Vick has been efficient, managed the first two games well, and seems to be enjoying himself as he cavorts through overmatched defenses.

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The Falcons ran for 252 yards in their win at Carolina, the most real estate ever surrendered by the Panthers on the ground. The 306 yards for which they gashed Tampa Bay, with tailback Warrick Dunn (134 yards) and quarterback Michael Vick (127 yards) both topping the century mark, was also an all-time opponent's high against the Bucs' defense.

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Anything can work when teams aren't prepared for it. If the Falcons are still running it with success late in the season then it's something to call Mort on.

But so far so good. Falcons running game looked awesome today and Vick was very dangerous with the "college option" as the annoucers were calling it.

Jerious Norwood is going to be a monster in this scheme.

the "college option" as the annoucers were calling it.

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Yeah, they kept referring to it as "the old college option". The Zone Read has been around for maybe 10 years at the most. Typical TV announcers, though. They know less about the game at hand than any more-than-casual fan.

Here ya go, dgreen.

The Falcons ran for 252 yards in their win at Carolina, the most real estate ever surrendered by the Panthers on the ground. The 306 yards for which they gashed Tampa Bay, with tailback Warrick Dunn (134 yards) and quarterback Michael Vick (127 yards) both topping the century mark, was also an all-time opponent's high against the Bucs' defense.

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This is impressive for two seemingly contradictory reasons:

1. The Bucs defenses has been so good the last several years, it is hard to believe they gave up 300+ to someone.

2. The Bus defense was so bad for so many years, it is hard to believe the 2006 Falcons now have this record instead of a team from the mid-80s.

Agreed. I think the Bucs are aging and on a bit of a slide, but it's impressive nonetheless, esp to put records on Ds two weeks in a row.

Does Dunn get goalline carries? How many will he have this year? next week?

MeVsMaradona said:

Does Dunn get goalline carries? How many will he have this year? next week?

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Err...I misplaced my crystal ball, so....