The article linked below is a great read. It includes lots of videos clips showing how poor Kalil and Harrison were at Center and how their failures hurt the Jets' offense more than any other position. They are contrasted with plays highlighting McGovern's successes in similar situations. I learned a lot about center play from the article. If the author of this article is correct, our offense should be a lot better this season because of greatly improved and more consistent play from the Center position. Enjoy! https://jetsxfactor.com/2020/09/08/...nnor-mcgovern-at-center-will-be-massive-film/
Thanks for posting this. All the interior pressure was brutal to watch last year. We've been so bad with centers i need to see to believe
Nice read. Thanks for posting. Penetration is the enemy of the zone running scheme (inside or outside really). It's not about being the strongest guy on the field, but you have to play with low leverage and get a body on a body and hold the block long enough for the runningback to run off the blockers backside. The problem with what Kalil did when he faced penetration is that he faced up the lineman and tried to drive block him. If it happens, you're usually taught to ride the defender where he wants to go. It still blows up the play but you have a chance at creating a seam. Let the defensive tackle run himself to the sideline if he wants just push his momentum where he wants to go. I could be wrong but I have to imagine Kalil played in a man on man blocking scheme his whole career. Hopefully McGovern has a stronger and lower base and this doesn't happen. You don't need elite interior lineman to effectively run this scheme. You need continuity and NO RUN THROUGHS!!! His clips show exactly what I'm talking about with leverage. Beat the defender to the spot on his outside shoulder and shield with your forearm and you can still pickup another block. Hat on a hat. You don't need to push guys over you just need to get in their way with zone blocking.
That was a great article. The writer did his homework and provide really good analysis. Thanks for posting! Go! Jets!
Any sympathy for Harrison will soon dissipate after watching that tape, as a UK fan we or I don't really watch the OL close up, you're always concentrating on the QB, RB and looking for the open WR but to see the C driven back so many times goes to show that we were desperate for a new C. Shocking stuff really, Kalil was absolutely horrendous and a complete waste of a wage.
NICE. This is just what I needed to light my opening day Jets fuse, given all the negatives we always discuss.
Good stuff! This article makes me appreciate Darnold more, and sympathize with Bell and Gase. There were defenders who had no business being in the backfield almost instantaneously as the ball is snapped. By giving Bell, and Darnold a little more time it could only improve our offense. I know we need WRs and play makers on offense, but getting a solid Oline is the key, and the foundation to a great team. This team is being built from the oline up, which is the correct way of doing the rebuild. Props to GM and Coach for not making the splashy moves for big names WRs, and sticking to their guns.
Great stuff. I always suspected that the root of the bad OL play was bad fit for the scheme as much purely bad players. There always seemed to be 2 square pegs trying to get into round holes. Then we'd get someone like Winters who played a bit better in the right scheme, extend him and then change the OC/HC to someone who wants to run a different scheme that doesn't suit the player. The OL was always playing catch up with guys who were a bad fit.
Jet fans have only recently seen the impact of bad center play. It is one position that we have had long stretches of solid play with the same guy. Mangold 2006 - 2016 Mawae. 1998 - 2004 Jim Sweeney 1988 - 1994 Joe Fields. 1976 - 1986 40 years with most of them played by 4 guys.
You know what I like about this article, and similar video breakdowns I've watched in the past by Robby Sabo and others is how well Darnold handles these screw ups. Even when presented with absolutely appalling tactical situations he "almost" always is either trying to do the right thing aka best possible under the circumstances, or manages to pull the chestnuts out of the fire completely and somehow get the ball out to somebody. I mean nobody gets everything right every single time but I watch videos like this and draw the conclusion that Darnold is a really good instinctual/heady player. And thats on top of his obvious running/throwing physical ability. I feel like if we can ever get this poor kid some effective help he's really going to do some good things in the NFL and hopefully thats all about to start with our new LT and the rest of the offensive line.
