New scheme has the offense playing in a zone

When Michigan and USC last met, in the 2004 Rose Bowl, the Wolverines had a mediocre game running the ball and struggled to protect their quarterback, who was sacked nine times.

All of which contributed to a 28-14 loss.

This season’s Michigan team hopes to reverse those trends with a new blocking scheme installed by first-year offensive coordinator Mike DeBord.

Last spring, after looking at the personnel he had inherited -- large, yet relatively quick afoot linemen -- DeBord decided to switch to zone blocking.

That means his linemen no longer depend solely on brute force, hitting defenders head-on. The new scheme has them moving laterally off the snap, stretching the defense and hitting opponents at an angle. The running back follows behind and can select which hole to run through.

“I don’t have too much of an advantage trying to knock you straight off the ball,” DeBord said.

“If I can run at [the defender] sideways and hit him at an angle, it’s better for me.”

His linemen took immediately to the change.

“Being able to run around and hit people is fun,” tackle Jake Long said.

Quarterback Chad Henne likes the new system because it allows him to audible to a run or pass from the same formation. That could help slow the USC rush.

Zone blocking also suits tailback Mike Hart, who has rushed for 1,515 yards, a big part of the reason Michigan is tied for 11th in rushing yards nationally.

“He’s a really good zone runner,” USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt said. “He does a nice job of picking his way through the holes and through the trash.”

USC linebacker Oscar Lua considers zone blocking difficult to contend with and said that, in some respects, Michigan reminds him of the Texas team that defeated the Trojans in last season’s national title game.

Hart said he was excited from the first moment he heard about the switch.

“I’d always wanted to run behind zone blocking,” he said. “It plays to my benefit because I’ve got good vision.”

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The subject of blocking got USC cornerback Terrell Thomas talking about Michigan’s receivers.

Although Mario Manningham, Steve Breaston and Adrian Arrington are better known for catching the ball, Thomas said they might be the best blocking receivers USC has faced this season.

“They keep on blocking until the play’s over,” he said. “Cut you, beat you into the ground.”

DeBord tried to instill that mentality over the summer.

“You can make four- or five-yard runs with what happens up front,” the coordinator said. “But the big plays come off what happens outside.”

david.wharton@latimes.com