It is simple but can be complicated . Mike -middle linebacker , Will- weak side linebacker , Sam -strong side LB . It should be as simple as the QB pointing at the middle linebacker. Everyone knows from the roster who the MLB is … so why does the QB have to point him out ? Some systems the center points him out. Well , depending on how the defense is aligned ...the middle linebacker may not be playing middle linebacker. He may have another assignment . The Mike identifies the center of the blocking scheme . So if the play is designed to go a different way ...the QB may call the weakside LB the mike if he wants the blocking scheme centered there . In any case , somebody is assigned to the mike . In this case two guys thought the were assigned to the mike . So there was an illegal bl0ck ...and another guy I guess did not get blocked.
This team has not 'run blocked' in the classic sense in 4 years. They have not protected in a classic sense in 4 years. They have been victims of Jones passive weird hybrid , everything looks like a pass block , non blocking system . It is going to take awhile to master a prostyle assignment system . It is a carefully timed and choregraphed thing . With run blocking , it is mental but the physical takes physical development and time. This is not something they will master in a few practices. It is just like weight lifting reps...it is cumulative . You don't just start lifting and 3 weeks later bench 400 ( they haven't been doing that either )
Look for them to get better as the season progresses.
