line splits for zone run game?

18"-18"-24"

This comes from going on the field at College & NFL practices & watching what they do, talking to the best teachers of zone blocking (A. Gibbs, Joe Bugel, etc.). Also TRIAL & ERROR from running these plays since 1981!

Alex Gibbs splits 18". Bugel teaches 24" but will admit that MOST OF THE TIME they are more like 14" (watch end zone film on them & what he says is 100% TRUE). You NEED tight splits to facilitate the zone aspect of WORKING TOGETHER, & to prevent penetration!

We use G = 18" - T = 18" & TE either 18" (or 24" if NOT zoning with ON T - esp. to release on pass).

They are allowed to "REDUCE SPLITS IN ORDER TO GET THE JOB DONE" - (BUT NO CLOSER THAN 6", SO THEY WON'T STEP ON EACH OTHER'S FEET). THIS IS ON BOTH ZONE & POWER/COUNTER BLOCKING, BUT YOU SEE IT MORE WHEN THEY ARE DOWN BLOCKING PENETRATORS IN THE POWER/COUNTER GAME!!!!!

I know that this goes against all zone logic but this year when our run game was struggling we opened our splits up to 2-2/12 feet and it helped (also we are strictly a zone team). Go figure!

I was listening to a tape by oline coach pat ruel and he said your splits should be a 12 inches all the time in the zone game. it also helped in there passing game as they could pass off stunts better.

they are great for running the option as i was at a option school this past year. woffard has large linesplits as well. from my understanding they are 3ft between the guard and center and 4 to 6 ft between the guard and tackle.

CoachJimD,

Did you have any trouble with your kids not being able to combo block or having the defense "shoot gaps" when playing 24"-30" splits?

Just wondering.