-Context: Gibbs is coaching with Atlanta/Mike Vick, thinking about integrating the read option into what they do, while helping UF shore up the use of the Stretch play and showing them how they do it in the NFL. This sequence of videos is a marathon, but it's FUNKING AWESOME. I don't know how Brophy got a hold of this, but this stuff is just a great insight into what coaches at the college/pro levels are looking at and doing.

-Regardless of what you think about Vickers or Maceric, I thought it was interesting to get insight into an NFL coach's mind about fullbacks. You could also see how teams might think about a 3rd down back or second RB in a similar way:

Gibbs on NFL fullbacks (at around 6:35 into the first video) "Our fullback is not a fullback. Our fullback is a second or third runner. We no longer play a "blunt" player. We can't afford it...So what we don't understand is why there is a guy sittin' over there on that f**k\in' bench that is better than that FB in that game...So when you see our fullback, you're don't going to see a guy who's going to go around stabbin' MIKE linebackers in the heart...We are not looking for a 260-pound f**king slug. We're looking for a receiver, and a guy that understands the same reads that this runner's learning. I can play a rookie here (at RB) if I can have a veteran who can take just the 3rd and longs. I can get (the rookie) off the field if he doesn't have to learn all the pickups...that's a lot of rules! Then we've got a lot of flexibility. Our system doesn't change when we (get into situational offense)"

-Gibbs played the fullback about 54% of the time the season prior to the filming of this video.

-This part is awesome, and it opens the 3rd video. They are looking at a "cutback" play, where the RB cuts behind both DTs, who have flown outside to stop the stretch play. To the defense and the fans and the TV, this looks like the runner cut back "against the grain".

Look again.

The runner takes off for his aiming point (somewhere around the TE) and by the time he cuts and goes upfield, he is on the same piece of grass where his aiming point was to begin the play--BUT he went behind 3 DL. Awesome stuff.

-Gibbs says he's led the league in rushing 2 years in a row with OL personnel that would have been ranked between 25th and last: his goal is to take lesser talented players and make something happen.

-Gibbs' goals in his zone scheme: Minimize plays that gain less than 2 yards, maximize plays of 20+.

He says these two actually work against each other: adding a FB into the mix brings another defensive player, clutters things for the back, but assures the offense they can pick up at least a few yards. Taking the FB out means less people in the box and more big plays, but sometimes the defense can sneak someone in that the offense can't account for (negative plays).

-On WRs blocking in the running game: "Now those guys get a heavy f___ choice of coachin' with this s___ too now. You wanna hear some guys getting screamed at, on this team when those guys don't do what they're supposed to do, there are people on their ass like they have never seen. Those are the problem guys on everyone's team. They think they are stars. Well you are a star provided you do what you are supposed to do in the f___ running game. Otherwise, get the hell off our team. Those guys aren't worth havin' on your team."

-On "the system": "Everybody has a little piece, but only a little and they can't get it coordinated so they give up on it. It's too hard to put it in with all those other plays. If you put em in with other plays guys, you can't do it. You're foolin' yourself, you can't get it all taught."

-More about fullbacks: "Now our fullback is not a real "thud" player, he's an athlete. We don't "win" on those guys (dominate with FB vs. LBs in the run game) but we don't "lose" on em. Get square, stay square, try not to have your feet get knocked back, and we live with what we've got. I mean if Dunn gets hurt, this guy's got to play."

Ok that's all I got for now. I am still in the third video, but if you have a desire to really learn about the ZB runs and some free time, this is the best place to go.