Carlos Hyde: Identifying 49ers RB’s Scheme Fit in 2016
By Robert Smith
With the 2016 NFL regular season set to begin, let’s take a look at how San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde and head coach Chip Kelly’s zone blocking scheme are perfect fits for one another.
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde just can’t hide his enthusiasm (pardon the obvious play on words).
But with new 49ers head coach Chip Kelly operating the same zone-blocking scheme Hyde used at Ohio State and head coach Urban Meyer, it’s no surprise Hyde is gearing up to have a breakout season for the Niners in 2016.
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Speaking with Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News about the prospects of a 1,500-yard season, Hyde did not mix words.
“I think it could really happen,” Hyde said. “I see holes in practice (and) guys moving guys out of the way.”
Moving guys around is one way to put it. Let’s break down exactly how players will move guys out of the way in Kelly’s offense.
ZBS Basics
To understand the zone-blocking scheme, you just need to know that it basically consists of two plays.
The first is the outside zone. It is designed to have the offensive line pulling in one direction, flowing towards whichever side of the field the play is run.
The defense has to react to the offensive line pulling, and the running back can then use his vision to create and run through cracks in the defense. It is a natural, reactionary scheme designed to allow the running back to use his creativity and God-given abilities.
This is illustrated well in the following video, courtesy of fishduck.com:
As you can see, the concept is rather simple. But the real key is executing the nuances of blocking the man ahead as you move downfield. It also shows the evolution and adjustments Kelly made to disguise which zone read was actually being run.
It keeps defenses guessing because the formations of previous inside or outside zone reads are interchangeable.
Whether it is Kelly or Meyer’s scheme at Ohio State, or various other pro or college teams, the basic principle is still the same.
The only difference is some of the formations.
The other prominent play in the zone-blocking scheme is the inside zone. It’s predicated on an offensive lineman deciding which player to block by understanding whether he is blocked coming off the line of scrimmage.
In simple terms, linemen will “put a hat” on the player directly in front of him, using leverage and push to create lanes for the running back to work in.
Although this next video, courtesy of coachgrabowski.com, is of an Ohio State versus Minnesota Golden Gophers game, the principles of the zone-blocking scheme still apply. It shows how each lineman “covers” whichever defensive player enters his zone as they drive off the line of scrimmage and work downhill. This is physical football 101.
With Hyde’s physicality, he will be able to plow through and create contact with the second and third level of defenders he faces while bruising downhill.
How Carlos Hyde Fits
As much as some people may subscribe to the notion of Kelly’s uptempo offense being gimmicky and soft, the above videos bare a different story.
One of the most important aspects of properly executing the zone-blocking system, besides locating the player you will block, is the area and angle you use to block the player.
Depending on the direction of the play, it is imperative for the offensive lineman to engage the defender either on the left or right side of his shoulder pads to maintain proper leverage and pad level. It also provides the ability to leave one defender and bounce to the next to maximize the zone and allow the running back to find a lane to run through.
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Hyde was highly successful not only at Ohio State, but in the 49ers’ first game versus the Minnesota Vikings last season. The Niner coaching staff utilized the zone-blocking scheme to perfection.
It was no surprise Hyde totaled 168 yards on the ground as he used a combination of his size, strength and vision to dominate the Vikings defense.
The physicality of the zone-blocking scheme seems to get lost in all the razzle dazzle of Kelly’s uptempo offense. But make no bones about it — it is the straw that stirs the drink.
If effective, it also allows the quarterback play-action and zone-read possibilities as well. This can help to keep defenses off balance and allow the offense to effectively execute from any number of formations.
There is a tremendous sense of optimism Hyde can have a breakout year for the 49ers. He will be running in a system he thrives in, which will help carry the team back to some level of success it had just a few short seasons ago.
Let the games begin.
Next: What the 49ers Offensive Line Should Look Like in 2016
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Fishduck.com, coachgrabowski.com, 49ers.com and NFL.com unless otherwise indicated.