Has anyone looked into this?

A few things.

1. Does solid WR Run Blocking (and STR, but most CB don't have high STR) improve Run Plays, especially Outside Runs?

2. Does solid Run Blocking and STR 'wear down' a CB so he fatigues faster, thus being pulled more often or risking injury more often?

The idea is to put the hurt on CBs so that Back Ups come in who are general Slower and Weak Tacklers so there is more open space on the Outside and less 'chasing' or 'tracking' to the ball (as in theory 2 Defenders are completely taken out via Blocks they just can't handle).

This would also include Nickel and Free/Strong Safety, but Safeties generally have STR so you'd need really exceptional Blocking WR to get to those guys and lock them down (TE helps here).

Would also be interesting to see things like 4 Wide Receiver Set facing Dime, with 4 Run Blocking WR on a Run Play.

Just tossing some things out and looking to see if anyone has experience with this stuff.

I usually put my best RB/ST combo WR in the slot in the 11 set because of outside runs. I have found that this allows the WR to lock up the NB. If you have a good LT, LG, and RG, then 11 HB Counter becomes devastating against most defenses.

Blocking is very static. Players engage or not and when they do they move little. It's a win or a loss after that. So aligning players here is key. Spreading out formations and going in between the Tackles works well. Also, tightening up and busting a pitch outside works well. With the right guys of course. WR with good blocking is icing on the cake. Still you will see many complete misses by a 100 everything WR where here runs straight down the field past any defender.

Safeties generally come from angles that are not blocked. Depending the formations of course and run blocking opposite is run defense. Strength is the push you get once engaged with acceleration getting you there. Speed is what gets you outside or stops it too, but 50 is some what effective with 100's all around else where. This is a general of course cause there is many ways to stop the run too.

Note that depending on the play call, the WR may be assigned to block or he might be assigned a deep route to decoy the secondary away from the run.

Thanks! Is there an effect on the defense when they see such looks? I am assuming there are multiple out comes the defender will do based off say play knowledge, run defense or some combo.

Thanks for the feed back so far.

Hopefully more floods in.

So we do believe that Slot vs. Nickel is a very important match up, and while Split End and Flanker aren't as important vs. WR because of Decoy Routes and the such they aren't useless either.

Seems like STR/RB on WRs isn't the worst investment a Heavy Run type of Team can make.