Warrior General Games

Alright, so my curiosity has been driven. With the understanding that Return Awareness is all but a waste. Have we been able to identify if there is a difference between; Run Block Awareness and Lead Block Awareness?

If so, what is the difference of how they work? And importance?

It's all in the play art.

As I understand it, run block awareness helps you hold blocks and keep the defender on the right side of where the ball carrier is coming through. It helps in getting to the right spots quickly on pulls and makes initial blocking %s better because of engagements.

And lead blocking awareness is basically being able to find not only the correct guy to block in open space, but where it is best to engage him and your positioning to get in the way of multiple defenders trying to chase.

I've not delved into it much though, so the understanding might be flawed. I don't make offensive linemen, I've just run behind enough of them to try and form an opinion on that matter myself.

It is hard to discern between the two. Is there only one "lead blocker" every running play, as in is the guy in front the only one to utilize lead blocking, or is it any blocker in front of the ball carrier's path? I know that lead blocking has to be important on blocking FBs and pulling OTs/Gs.

Whatever the definition, I would not recommend bringing either skill above 50. It seems to make them engage blocks far away from the carrier when awareness is above 50. Only exception would be if you have "Pull Specialist" on a lineman because that SA is activated by Lead Block Awareness. Even then I wouldn't go above 60.

Originally posted by DeeVee8
It is hard to discern between the two. Is there only one "lead blocker" every running play, as in is the guy in front the only one to utilize lead blocking, or is it any blocker in front of the ball carrier's path? I know that lead blocking has to be important on blocking FBs and pulling OTs/Gs.

Whatever the definition, I would not recommend bringing either skill above 50. It seems to make them engage blocks far away from the carrier when awareness is above 50. Only exception would be if you have "Pull Specialist" on a lineman because that SA is activated by Lead Block Awareness. Even then I wouldn't go above 60.

Yeah, anywhere between 35-50 lead block awareness seems to be a good sweet spot. Don't have to go crazy with it even if you rock pull specialist as pull specialist is similar to other SAs that have a chance to fire every tick and will fire regardless on most plays that apply anyway. As for run block awareness, I will go out on a limb and say that it probably mostly applies to non pulling OLineman who do not have a DLineman in front of them to engage rapidly and work their way to the second level of the defense and aim to pick up a LB or safety.

Whoever downvoted my post is clueless. The answer is literally in the play art.

Dupe

So then in a few outside the norm situations...
AN offensive player say finishes or breaks free of his first block and is now blocking downfiels 5 or 10 yards, is that Run Blk Awr or Lead Block Awr....
A kick off or punt return blocker what skill is he using?
A WR blocking downfield after a pass reception?

Originally posted by Jagat0r
So then in a few outside the norm situations...
AN offensive player say finishes or breaks free of his first block and is now blocking downfiels 5 or 10 yards, is that Run Blk Awr or Lead Block Awr....
A kick off or punt return blocker what skill is he using?
A WR blocking downfield after a pass reception?


I am guessing run block awareness in those situations. The reasoning for it is simply because the only positions that have the option to add lead block awareness are the ones that can pull or swing out in front of a runner to lead the way out of the backfield(HB, FB, G and OT). It would seem like they would give an option to add lead blocking to WRs and such if it would have done anything. Just a guess though.

Originally posted by Detroit Leos
I am guessing run block awareness in those situations. The reasoning for it is simply because the only positions that have the option to add lead block awareness are the ones that can pull or swing out in front of a runner to lead the way out of the backfield(HB, FB, G and OT). It would seem like they would give an option to add lead blocking to WRs and such if it would have done anything. Just a guess though.

Bingo! Like I said...look at the play art. Some pull and use lead block awareness on those plays.

GE actually called it right. Lead blocks are shown on the plays curving to the outside. Pull Specialist's activation condition also gives more detail: Pulling and blocking to the outside on an outside run or screen play. I suspect block awareness deals with the other run blocks. So on a counter to the left for example, the RG/RT are using block awr, while the FB/LG/LT are typically using lead block awr to the outside. WRs don't need lead block because they only have regular blocks on the plays. FB/HBs do however have lead, and you can see why looking at both run/screen plays.

I completely understand the concept of when and why. My curiosity however was tied to if it's been tested and proved worthless just like the kickreturn awareness attribute is all.

Or if it is good, just is merely only utilized when pulling.

In the early stages I believe lead block awareness has some value around the corner for tes and OTs. Beyond that its more about speed and tech. I've definitely made the mistake far too often worrying too much about awareness while watching guys like mysterio run really great run teams just based off speed and tech for a bunch of tiers.

Tech is by FAR the most important blocking skill. You should max it on all blockers.