Back to a Wide Zone Blocking Scheme

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Frank Pollack has mentioned he wants to bring the Wide Zone back to the Bengals. This scheme is popular in Cleveland, Minnesota, San Francisco, LA, and Tennessee. Pollack started to implement this in 2018 but the Bengals really sold into the Wide Zone under Zac, Callahan, and Turner at the beginning of 2019 before switching to a more power pin & pull/inside zone in the second half of the year.

The big difference is the first step. With a Wide zone you will see the first step lateral playside before engaging the defender trying to turn him away from the play if that isnt possible to engage and trying to force him to the play side sideline.

Guys like Joe Thomas mention this is the easiest scheme for young players because there is more room for error.