*@,$Oe* R:MnRO_ *?r&*o}OQ!*M$}M ", Milt Tenopir, the legendary offensive line coach under Tom Osbourne at Nebraska, believed in the same philosophy of having his covered offensive lineman really work to get to the second level. In this instance the Running Back will line up next to the Quarterback opposite of the play call. The 3 templates include: Last, the running back needs to read the block of the play-side tackle. Due to the speed the runner is moving at he will not be reading the playside tackle and is automatically trying to get to the edge. Offensive linemen must still take outside tracks (which will be covered below) and work through any first level defenders to get to their number. But when we conducted our research, we've found that the majority of coaches we polled (37.8 %) do not teach the cut block back-side. ,h_;9%Z*`0~`Wgaiwr>Qbsvo]9-o!N"e"wZQ'"-Hb.ZG: nwj?mCA7cQOc7Le:RDZD->Zu!+DGnz@NSSFWbk;Tlp`:@11ZcK
:YZgGviGf]XkB`MvpN&:7 That opens up a nice lane down the middle. Their objective is to reach and overtake the next down lineman play side. Once again, it was a pleasure to report on the offensive line principles in the zone scheme. 2. By having the Running Back coming downhill the defenders are forced to react or risk being beaten to the edge. If the first read is not reached, but is stretched and running outside, the back looks for the second read. 3. The two plays are based on the teaching that in any inside or outside zone play, there are "covered" and "uncovered" linemen. Various trigger concepts: By "trigger" concepts we're referring to the actions off zone option such as the flash or speed sweep, the outside zone option as well as the reverse package. The scheme is versatile, doesnt ask offensive linemen to physically overpower defenders, and puts more responsibility on the running back to make the scheme work effectively. (Diagram 2) Can't see the diagram? His job is to secure players in his gap so that the center can overtake him. *%nT]QnMLL**c&u%9l]+4Lj3ImEYJM!A3=bdG$Ui
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J'9XqDuxqD2I[}vmxmz0TV&3+OI=;@ D-PRLL*@EzfLs* "So we think there is no chance anyone from the play side A gap back can make a play on the outside zone. This can be run from a variety of different formations and sets which makes it particularly difficult to defend. If the defensive end has the play-side tackle in a stalemate, the running back will bang it next to their block to recoup some yards. Follow, Head Coach Monterey HS @coach_besaw born and raised in the Spread (Eugene, OR) covering all things Spread Offense, A few different ways you can use the sniffer tight end in the run game Programs like Boise State and Oregon thrive off running it from the gun, while the Colts ran it from under center, forcing the QB to get to the landmark quickly. The outside zone or also called the zone stretch is probably the most recognizable play in the zone blocking scheme. Seal - Term used for blocking defender out to stop penetration of gap or to ensure edge pressure . He can then read the block of his Playside Tackle to determine if he will press the ball outside or make a single cut back to the Inside. The tackle would miss the block, forcing the guard to pick up the defensive end or allowing the end to quickly get in the backfield. . If by the third step, the offensive lineman is not in a position to overtake the down lineman, he's up on the next path to cutoff whatever comes. Our hope is that after you read what they do, you find a common ground to adapt what you do to fit your personnel, which after all, is the essence of good coaching. If the defensive end stays to the outside (through the C gap), then the offensive tackle will stay on him while the offensive guard peels off to pick up the Mike. Similar line blocking assignments: Just like the inside zone, the outside zone utilizes a full zone scheme. . The guard and tackle on each side of the center will combine for the zone blocking double teams. We call it a 'rip-to-reach' because we used to take the inside arm and rip it across the outside arm of the defender. "When we put the lead foot where it is supposed to be, the rest of the body will come with you," said Tenopir. Subscribe for weekly recaps on analysis, insight, and articles. Outside zone plays follow the same basic rules listed above with a few general guidelines that should be followed. Required fields are marked *. The filled/unfilled system prioritizes their rules based on whether the play-side gap of an offensive lineman has a defender in it or not. We hope that you can take a couple things from this report and bring it back to your program to become more successful. No. GOD - Gap on Down; GOLD - Gap on LB Down; GOO - Gap on Outside (pass) Xs and Oz: Outside Zone Rules Outside Zone Blocking The offensive line blocks Outside Zone Rules. There are certain indicators that would "tip off" some form of angle or stunt to the play side of zone. If that foot is back chances are he will slant across my face. Sometimes that deep step is needed to take over the next down lineman. How he blocks him can vary - some coaches prefer lead or angle step up field, whereas some tell their offensive lineman to bucket step. The added speed of the runner makes it more likely that the Tackle will be able to make the block but many teams will use the Running Back to seal the edge to guarantee that the ball carrier can get to the alley. It also shows the running back reading sequentially down the line. The double team on outside zone will be short lived and evolved into a co-op block between the PS Tackle and PS TE. Ruel's Techniques of a Stretch Scoop (uncovered lineman): That last coaching point is the golden nugget. This helps eliminate some concerns especially if you are pulling a fast player over from defense to run the play. While they ranged from 1-3 yards outside the tight end or EMLOS, we selected two of the more specific responses we received. There were numerous reasons as to why high school coaches don't tell their kids to cut block, but perhaps no other coach was more straightforward about it then Sweeney. Duo is an inside threatening run that abides by Gap scheme blocking rules and whose name is derived from the goal of getting two double teams on first level defenders. The center gives a quick hand to help the guard overtake his man. So when we started compiling the report, we've found that the most heated discussion is whether or not to full zone or man block the scheme. 9 0 obj
This can only be accomplished through practice with the backs running at full speed. The linemen open up and get on a 45 degree track. Zweifel will do this when he sees a C gap down defender to the play side. The biggest one is that if the ball is dropped by the runner it is considered a forward pass and the play is dead. If the center cannot reach the nose, he will make a "me" call to the strong guard telling him to block the nose and the center will pull to block the MLB. The blocking has been simplified through the use of two blocking schemes-- inside zone and outside zone-- for a variety of different plays. This made it very easy to teach, especially for younger football players who were just learning to play the game. This not only provides for a wider blocking surface, but also keeps the horizontal displacement of the scheme giving the running back more room to operate (we will explain the RB reads a bit later). They must be taught through practice and game reps to get a feel for when the Tackle does not have his man sealed so they can turn it upfield to gain yards. endobj
First, all defensive linemen would line head-up on an offensive lineman. Outside zone can be run from different formations, depending on where the coach wants the play to hit. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates: Thanks for subscribing! Last, the play-side tackle has one of the most important blocks in the entire play. On inside zone there will be double teams where as outside zone there will be no double teams except on the edge between the PS Tackle and the PS TE. In this example, the RT will be on his own and is responsible for the DE (2 vs 2 in the count). Outside zone is usually somewhere "on the tackle," or "on the TE." Again, often at the butt or outside leg. The backside guard will step toward the play side to ensure no penetration from a blitzing linebacker or backside lineman. Your email address will not be published. Here, the end man on the line of scrimmage to the play-side jabs in on the snap which allows for left tackle David Bakhtiari to be able to seal him and give the Packers the outside. Some general rules that are applied to these systems: Contrary to its name, outside zone doesnt usually hit outside. The same read rules apply as before, but now if the DE goes upfield, the QB keeps it and runs off the FB block. What this does is result in a lot of double-team blocks at the line of scrimmage. Instead, Sweeney spends more time alerting his lineman pre-snap about the possibilities of a stunt or scrape. Outside zone is a play that aims to attack the edge of the defense but utilizes backside cutoffs. The defense counters with four defensive linemen, as well as the Sam linebacker lining up in tight toward the line of scrimmage. And if he crosses my face, I just want to continue on my path because it gives the back more space to run.". Some offensive linemen may still have only one blocking responsibility, again depending on the offensive play and defensive scheme being used. :0d-D$:7l+kWqmW8\6*#$Iwf?jBhs(. And again, this is also not universal. At the snap, the defensive end would quickly slant to his right, going through the B gap -- between the guard and tackle. Alright, so you've got your basic outside zone run, and that's working pretty good, but your opponent is adjusting. Contact us if you are interested in contributing content. "He wants to get started up field because he is going to come off on the next level. Zone is great because it takes into account any spikes or slants from the defensive line. Even if offensive linemen lose ground, the back can run off of those blocks and create positive plays that exploit fast-filling linebackers. Again, the purpose of the outside zone is to show a horizontal stretch on the defense. Sure, some teams have chosen to man block the play, 73.8 percent of coaches still use a covered and uncovered principle when running the outside zone. INSIDE ZONE FROM WEAK OFFSET PRO I FORMATION Inside Zone Strong Inside Zone Weak Inside Zone Lead Strong Inside Zone Lead Weak OUTSIDE ZONE Coaching Points-Outside Zone Outside Zone Strong GENERAL FORMATION & PLAY SETUP COACHING NOTES : Inside Zone Ballhandler Notes : Inside Zone O-Line Rules Inside Zone O-Line Technique Notes : Miscellaneous Zone Running Game Notes: (3 pgs . A primary goal of almost all offenses is to get the ball to a speedy player in space. Blocking Calls / Rules. Hh9%9|6s$a=|/a!$T|{&q9z\1R3'kNCy@;XgGC8z|T?5B/XI4& Here is one last example of how the flow and horizontal pressure of outside zone can exploit defenses. Per Gibbs, outside zone is blocked the same as inside zone outside of two big differences. The zone blocking scheme can be distilled down to two plays: the inside, or tight zone run, and the outside, or wide zone run. It's not as wide. (Diagram 1) Can't see the diagram? The aiming point for the block is the playside shoulder of the defender.. Always finish your block. Next is the play side guard. The concept is that the Running Back will be coming downhill and taking a handoff deep in the backfield. The earlier you teach the zone blocking scheme to your players, and the more often you practice it, the easier itll be for them to master it. Sweeney, now a high school offensive line coach, feels it's too tough a task to accomplish. 1. RB aligns behind the tackle to his side, five yards off the ball in gun so we can stretch the defense. If youre interested in learning more about other base run plays, we have blogs detailing inside zone and other plays here. -TTZ>{fclRPd7yY6)l,$]! Initially, the Inside Zone looks like a really simple play as. This will allow them both to peel off successfully to the second level. The count is just a good starting point for the who the OL will block with anticipation of taking care of anyone that enters their gap. All rights reserved. In fact, its the exact same as far as who the offensive linemen are blocking. What are the key pieces of a successful Zone Run Scheme? It has become even more popular in the past few years with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay basing their entire offenses around the scheme. But against stunting first level defenders, keeping both shoulders squared becomes a difficult fundamental to accomplish. Basic Zone Blocking Rules: Inside Gap (first rule is to protect inside gap) Head UP (head up is considered from inside shoulder to outside shoulder) Climb to LB. Covered Offensive Lineman. This would result in one of two things -- both of which were good for the defense. The wide-zone run scheme is a play based on horizontal movement. Behind the Inside Zone it is the second most popular scheme at the professional and college level. Of course, when you have backs behind Manning with the speed of Edgerrin James and Joey Addai, getting to the perimeter of the defense is almost guaranteed. If not, run to the strong side A gap and cut off anything you could possibly see. Head Up, 50% chance he is mine engage and release if he goes inside. At the high school level, it is illegal to cut block at the second level so why teach it? Ruel stresses the idea of keeping his lineman's shoulders square and getting the stomach up field to guarantee the defender gets hooked. It is critical that he is able to read the Tackle. The offensive lineman is told that he must read covered or uncovered. "The aiming point for the drag hand is the backside pec of the defender. We tell our guard he must get beyond the man (far jersey number) before he can come back on him. Identify your man. Outside zone is a simple yet effective running play. To start on offense, the count will begin with the Center and then work to the front side. Try to cut off the defensive end, so the running back can get to the edge, If the defensive end widens and youre not able to cut him off, then try to run him to the sideline. Get our blocking diagrams to every defensive front Steps and Combos The next thing you need to study about the Inside Zone is Offensive Line Steps and Calling Combination Blocks. On most outside zone schemes, particularly ones run at the higher levels of football, offensive lineman would cut block defenders on the back-side of the play - regardless of whether that player was a first or second level defender. He then would need to try to fight through or around the defender who was now in his space to get to his blocking responsibility, which is the linebacker. "We're a dinosaur when it comes to our path. Inside zone running is vertical blocking where you are trying to move your man either left or . Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. Which player comes off the initial double team block will depend on where the defensive lineman is lined up and where the initial push goes. That means the center will work to the backside linebacker and not the play-side linebacker (PSLB). Outside Zone Explanation Blocking rules are the same as Inside Zone Difference is the aiming point of the Offensive Lineman Play Side O-Line takes a kick-step to the outside and Karaoke crossover step to get up field Backside opens on the play side foot and loses ground (Don't allow penetration) The blocking techniques, though, are different, as the plays are designed to get the defense moving laterally across the field and create seams in their coverage. -Designed by Thrive Themes| Powered by WordPress, Understanding the Zone Blocking Scheme in Football, What is a Quarterback in Football? Teams who use outside zone as a primarily outside zone run play may have their running back trying to get to the edge no matter what. Again, the zone blocking scheme will start with the offensive tackle and guards combining for a double team block at the line of scrimmage, followed by one of these linemen peeling off to block a second-level linebacker. Covered: There is a first level defender (DLM) from my nose to the nose of the adjacent lineman play side. Click here. Each of our plays may have 3 to 4 different ways to block the play based on the defensive formation. C BT BG PG PT Q ET MB Y So when we started compiling the report, we've found that the most heated discussion is whether or not to full zone or man block the scheme. Make your splits work for your advantage. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>>
Like the centers technique, the tackle is responsible for cutting off the angle of the defensive lineman by moving horizontally. Outside zone has been a part of NFL run games for decades. This eliminates rules for the bend bang or bounces from the running back. Although these covered and uncovered concepts are the same ones we spoke of on the inside zone report, we wanted to provide a quick refresher. The linemen still count their defenders to the play side when determining their responsibilities. This can be particularly difficult for younger running backs as they hear the Stretch play called and want to run the ball to the outside no matter what. In fact, 64.9 percent of coaches believe that the uncovered vs. covered methodology is the most productive way of blocking the inside zone scheme. The difference is the wide zone blocking is horizontal, either going toward one sideline or the other. If he tries to pull and come around the back-side number of the tackle, he will never get it done. But then, a hole in the man blocking system was exposed by smart defensive coaches. That caused offensive coaches to try to come up with a new blocking scheme thatd counter the slant and angle scheme and also protect against future defensive schemes that coaches might create. On the backside, the LG & LT (-1 & -2) will take care of the Nose and Will (-1 & -2) and the QB will read (or boot) the BSDE (-3) to account for him in the blocking scheme. In a clinic setting, Coach Greatwood teaches the inside zone concepts of the devastating Duck ground attack. Even the Blocking Scheme in itself is very different in the the . As a result I normally give the players the option if they would like to get the ball dropped down to them. As you can see from the description and illustrations, the slant and angle defensive scheme posed a big problem for man blocking schemes. This system rewards athletic linemen that can climb to the second level quickly, and running . We do this by keeping both feet on ground." They designed whats called a slant and angle scheme that threw a big wrench in the man blocking approach. The TB chases the butt of the tight end on this. The BSG then gets up to the second level. One of the most common ways the Outside Zone has been used is from Under Center with the Stretch play. "When you cut on the back-side of zone you knock off the rest of the offensive lineman that are trying to trail the play." That tells the running back to adjust his track to be inside of those two defenders. The whole point of the play is to block a defender where they are, and not have to "move them." He even tells his back-side tackle on zone to execute a "swoop technique" (Diagram 4) with the intentions of getting all the way to the play side of the zone. Engage, resist cross face move, take them outside/up field. The center goes through or pulls for the Mike LB. ]Q{V@RZj/vzm[ n1Ae(A%g( <>
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~ny! If you have an offensive lineman built more for a power game than a zone game, we recommend you forego outside zone. Get our blocking diagrams to every defensive front Steps and Combos The next thing you need to study about the Inside Zone is Offensive Line Steps and Calling Combination Blocks. Although this topic was not in our original survey, we did do our research to find the most common aiming points of the ball carrier. Regardless of how the handoff takes places the Jet man will be getting the ball and stretching the edge of the field. Here's what the Inside Zone Read looks like Live. Coach Ferentz calls it a "force the hole" play and that hole is usually the C gap. It provides a lot of advantages for offensive linemen, no matter what defensive play is called. The next step in the zone blocking scheme deals directly with how to block these two linebackers -- the Will and the Mike, in our example. This could ultimately lead to catastrophe. Basic Inside Zone Blocking Rules Diagram. . It's used against and eight man front. Case 2: "Uncovered" Blocking Concepts to the Play Side (Reach and Overtake). We are trying to put both hands on the far shoulder pad. In 2011, Oregon averaged 9.8 yards per play as they ran this play 36 times for 353 yards and 2 touchdowns. In turn, that allows the BSG to climb up to the linebacker. The scheme attacks space instead of players and offers a versatile play that doesnt demand vertical movement and instead stresses defenses on the perimeter. When we conducting our research, we've found there are three particular scenarios in which coaches are using the pin and pull technique. Assignments change based on whether there is a defender present in their gap or not. 4 0 obj
"He was the best in the business at that time and he used to tell us he always wanted to see our butts so that he can make the right cut. The tackle cannot come off the ball with no concern of the defender slanting inside. The defensive line wins outside leverage from both the defensive end and play-side defensive tackle spots. For years, offensive linemen were given man blocking responsibilities. For all intents and purposes, the objective of the uncovered offensive lineman in the outside zone scheme is to take over the play side down lineman while the covered offensive lineman works up to linebacker level (Diagram 3). It can also efficiently be run with one back, which would still give you the advantage of the leverage on the defense based on what you put into their gaps on either side. You should receive a confirmation email shortly asking you to verify your subscription.