DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season The NFL Draft 2015 Browns Select Duke Johnson with the 77th pick

It seems to be fairly well agreed upon that he's a 3rd down back, and that he sucks at pass-blocking (which a 3rd down back does). My question is, is blocking an easier or harder thing for a RB to learn/develop coming into the NFL?

It seems to be fairly well agreed upon that he's a 3rd down back, and that he sucks at pass-blocking (which a 3rd down back does). My question is, is blocking an easier or harder thing for a RB to learn/develop coming into the NFL?

Yea, this is one of those dividing picks. He seems like we got a lot of value here but we're now a running back by committee team?

I think those reports on blocking can be thrown out the window. They all will have to be taught...cause picking up a college blitz (just look at the safety) is so much more complex in the NFL.

Will - will to block but as Vers pointed out much more to LEARN...so they have to have the WILL TO LEARN.

Ladalian Tomlinson came into this league with the moniker of cannot block. That kid his first two seasons practiced so hard at it by his 3rd season he was considered on of the best!

Then you would have a Trent or a William Green and they could care less and take on an attitude of They don't pay me to block - Which would fly from one and only one (well maybe 2) RB JIM BROWN (2nd is Sanders)

I guess the important thing is the kids attitude to working hard on the little things! Reports...I know you read them a lot to get a read on a player Vers...which if you cannot make your own evaluations would be the next best thing. I just don't put too much stock into them...I've seen them to be spot on and so so wrong. And not consistently right or wrong so although better than no knowledge at all I wouldn't put too much definitive that is the way it is.

Go to your football knowledge. Its not a difficult task to learn...but there is difficulty where you will have to put an effort into it. And in most cases that is what its all about. They rookies put in the effort to get to be the best even the little things - the likelihood of them succeeding is pretty high. I'm sure the occasion to block will be needed for passing downs. But I envision him to be a WR type RB Lit the Bears like the Pats use.

jmho

I don't know if he is just a third down back, but I bet the Browns want to use him on a lot of passing downs, and he must improve his pass blocking.

I think you asked a good question.

Here is my attempt at an answer:

Yes, will has a lot to do w/it as does more reps. However, I think there is a bit more to it. Here are some factors to consider:

--If the RB is asked to stay in and pass block, his most difficult job is to identify the blitzer pre-snap. The blitzer is the guy who usually comes free and it is typically the RBs job to recognize who it is and get a hat on him.

--On many other plays, the RB has to decide to release as receiver, typically into the flat--but sometimes over the middle--or stay in and block. This is very tough and it takes great recognition by the back. Lot's of study of what opposing defenses do. It happens quick. Are you better off releasing as a safety valve for your qb or should you stay in and block. That's tough.

--Another thing to consider is the drop of the qb. You better know it and not have to think about it. Is it a 5-step drop? A 7-step drop? That actually matters in regards to where you need to be in terms of depth and width.

Here is a tip when judging how well RBs coming out of college block. They typically say that the guy is:

--a good pass blocker

--a willing blocker who can develop at the pro level

--or not a good pass blocker.

The first guy is one that has mastered both the physical and mental parts of the job.

The second guy is a guy who will knock your socks off, but wasn't really asked to pass protect too often in college.

The third guy is the guy you gotta worry about. He hasn't displayed either attribute.

Edit: I better mention this. What ddub mentioned earlier directly affects a couple of the points I mentioned in my post. You better know what your guys are doing and that will help you know which blitzer will be coming free or whether or not you should release as a receiver or to stay in and block.

Well, to your point, Taylor Gabriel wasn't some spectacular blocker when training camp began last year, but he worked hard on his blocking, and he became, quite possibly, the best blocking WR on the team.

I do think that this is usually the area that challenges college RBs the most of any they have to learn though.

Just asking, is it really the RBs job to identify blitzers?

When I played we always left the protection calls to the QB/Line.

That isn't what I meant. [sigh]


It was good for awhile.

Thanks for answering my question everyone! I have to say, a couple things were very enlightening for me.

1. The question of if a RB is willing to block seems tight to the issue of how willing he is go learn and improve. These guys that are drafted tend to be the better guys in college who carry the rock vs being a role player or part of a committee. You don't know what you're getting when it comes to blocking, to a large degree, and on average. That makes sense.

2. Most of the learning happens within the offense. There seems to be a bit of disagreement, but a RB has to quickly understand/diagnose what's going on in the play, and react accordingly (where to set up relative to the QBs drop, where the blitz should be coming from and where the blitz actually comes from, making the decision to block or release as a safety valve).

I can see how that could be difficult for a rook to master coming from a (usually) simpler offense into a much more complex one.