FWIW Alex Gibbs' version of zone blocking seemed to be closest to what GDL claimed he was implementing here. It also is a system that any view as being at a minimum borderline dirty.
I certainly hope that what we run going forward doesn't come within miles of resembling that version of zone blocking.
Whatever the former OC was doing wasn't working, and that's all there is to that, really - for me at least. I don't particularly recall seeing anything that looked like a Gibbs offensive line. Doesn't mean it wasn't what the old fart was potty mouthing about all day every day for 2 years.
Cut blocks have nothing to do with zone based offensive blocking schemes or man, or what - it's simply a technique to get a defender blocked and when done properly as it's supposed to be done, it's not particularly dangerous at all. Gibbs has his rep, because he's specifically coached players to go for the knees when they are diving. Mike Shanahan too.
When a smaller player is up against a much bigger player, like say a RB against a LB/DE, the cut block may be the only tool they've got to get the job done. But cut blocking by itself has nothing to do with 'zone' blocking.
Gibbs zone scheme works so effectively, because he requires at least two blockers on the backside of a run play to cut block the backside defender either at the LOS or the second level depending on the zone reads. By doing that, it effectively neutralizes the natural advantage that a defense has in a non-QB run play, and that's being 11 tacklers to 9 blockers. The effectiveness of the running system is also based off the threat of a QB bootleg, or play action, either running or passing - because it freezes the safety as well for a split second. So you take at least two backside defenders out at the legs, freeze a playside safety with the QB read for a second, and all of a sudden, you are 7 v 8 blockers to defenders, and the play side zone matchups have pushed the defense into a small area of the field, and you've got the rest of the field spread open with running lanes. The RB's that flourished with those offensive lines in Denver, and then Atlanta and now Houston aren't particularly gifted RB's respectively, all you need is adequate speed and adequate vision and if you've got 9 guys that can block it, you can run to daylight all day behind that kind of blocking.
THe problem is that it's hard to find players that are willing to put the targets on their own backs with that kind of blocking week in and week out.
I simply prefer not to intentionally put targets on our own players backs with their play on the field.
