Fine Detail on use of hands in zone blocking

There are many ways to do this as you listed above (personal preferences). Most teach striking the chest with heels of hands & thumbs up. A little trick many NFL coaches use is to "pinch cloth" between the thumb & forefinger (actually "holding") that never gets called. What I like is the "forklift technique with TIGHT HANDS as taught by Joe Bugel of the Redskins. This is from an article:

Bugel's current and former players believe his success stems from masterful motivational skills, communication ability and teaching acumen. Returning Redskins say they have improved markedly through Bugel's emphasis on hand techniques to hinder defenders.

Last season, Thomas, a gifted athlete who is agile despite his 6-foot-5, 306-pound frame, relied on a flawed blocking method -- blocking wide, with his hands several inches apart. It left Thomas' chest open to defenders, making him more vulnerable. A lineman has more control over the defender by keeping his hands close together inside the chest area -- "tight hands," Bugel explained -- before punching out.

The Redskins also have incorporated one of Bugel's trademark techniques: the arm pump, which is used in run blocking. The lineman cocks, or pumps, his arms to his sides before forcefully pushing upward -- "like a fork lift," Bugel said -- into the defender's chest area. It diminishes the chances of holding and keeps the lineman from being passive.

"He wants us to hit 'em in the chest and make their heartbeat stop," Thomas said. "It stuns them at the line because the defense is taught to hit you in your chest, so it's better if you hit them first."

Bugel used imaginary handcuffs, teaching his players through repetition and constant reminders. Thomas, a sixth-year veteran, had previously known a similar technique but stopped using it last season because it wasn't emphasized. Samuels, who is coming off perhaps his worst NFL season, picked up damaging tendencies in recent years -- dropping his head and using his hands improperly.

Alex Gibbs tells the STRENGTH COACH (Broncos & Falcons) to work on HAND strength in the weight room. This is all-important.

When the Skins begin to teach the "BASE DRIVE BLOCK" - it is by this outline:

BASE DRIVE BLOCK

1. Explode out.
2. Short first step (1/2 way to fingers of down hand; knee rolls over toe — NOT behind).
3. Back flat.
4. Bull neck.
5. Proper aiming point (aim face at throat of DLM; base of #'s of LB). Look the block in.
6. Second step MUST be beyond first step to win. Make contact on second step (most important step). Hit 1 yard through defender.
7. Whip the arms.
8. Blocking surface (drive the elbows inside & make contact with a triangle of hat & hands (thumbs up) to a lockout; contact the short ribs & "lift him out of his socks" on a 45 degree angle with fork lift motion).
9. Shoot the hips (unlock the power).
10. Driving steps.
11. Feet under you — good base.
12. Maintain contact.
13. 2nd & 3rd effort.

QUESTION: When do you whip the defender?
ANSWER: When he tries to escape the block — you come alive and finish (STAY ON BLOCK).

I like palms in the numbers, fingers around the chest plate as well. The only problem is that sometimes the slightly wider hand placement causes my guys start getting too wide with their hands and/or slipping off and we get a holding call. I was wondering, has anyone ever actually tied wrists with a short distance of rope during early drill progressions so hands cannot get wider than the distance of the rope? work leadstep and blow delivery from a two point stance then takeoff the ties and progress the drill? Just trying to think of a way to teach tight elbows and hands for those stubborn (or maybe slow learning) lineman that don't respond quickly to the usual tactics.

Most pros heel of hands, thumbs up"

Question: fists closed?

question: short ribs? = Base of numbers?

Above pro method, when they grab is it cloth instead of trying to control underlying pads.

Are the finger up coaches afraid of finger injury or punch shyness.

Nobody has yet adressed their feelings on lineman gloves.

If thumbs are up, fingers are to the side and less likely to be injured. I can say from personal experience that I never liked to wear gloves for two reasons. First, I couldn't feel the d-lineman as well. Second, I couldn't grab as well. Some of the guys I knew would actually wear receiver gloves if they were going to wear anything. To me, the padded lineman gloves gave the young players some confidence in their punch but as we gained experience, toughness, and proper technique most players gave them up. Of course the fist punchers still used them to protect their nuckles but guys that used an open palm liked direct contact with the jersey of the defender. But, that is just me and the guys I knew. I think it should be left to individual preference.