question - on zone blocking

Coach,

I agree completely with what you are saying. BUT, I think that Zone blocking is just like anything else; it can be as simple or as difficult as you make it.

When I first really started sinking my teeth into my OC role 6-7 years ago, I would not even entertain the idea of zone blocking. It was to complicated and conceptually too different in my mind for us to make the switch from the man and power schemes we had been running.

But, I paid attention to the articles, videos, books, and clinic speakers and learned more and more about it, and eventually I learned that

1. It's really NOT that different from what we were doing before.

2. It can actually be taught very simply. Some teams just use "covered" and "uncovered" rules, and THAT's IT! Nebraska does this in their IZ and OZ schemes, so there's really no learning at all. All the lineman needs to understand is if he is covered or uncovered, and the rest is technique.

When I started to look at it more carefully, I realized that when we block in our "power schemes" we are often double teaming a first level defender and tracking to a backside second level defender (trap, iso, off-tackle power, counter, etc.). Zone is basically the same thing, except you are tracking to a stacked or playside LB and much of your line technique is based on knowing where and how the ball is being deliverd (at what angle) so that the OL can anticipate the movement of the second level people and use the proper steps and leverage.

I've gotten to the point now where I am comfortable enough with my OL coach and our kids that I feel we can teach it and it will actually SIMPLIFY our lives because it elminates a lot of blocking rules and calls. In my mind, it's really more about technique than it is about scheme. Our traps and isos and so forth will still be run the same, but we will be using the appropriate zone combination techniques now as opposed to our pure power double team techniques we were using previously (and watching LB's run over the top and make plays before we could compensate and get on them).

It may take a few years to feel comfortable with it, but once you do you can make it your own and simplify it as much as you like! That's taken me 6 years...but I am finally to that point and I'm confident it will be a positive improvement.

Also coach, remember that it's the jimmys and joes, and not always the coaches / x's and o's. Those other guys may have been very good coaches with limited talent to work with.

Good luck coach!

One of the coaches in our conference has only had one winning season in the about the last few years. In my four years as a coach, we have beaten his teams by 3 or 4 TDs everytime we have played.

With that being said, when this coach talks football, I listen. He has been coaching the game longer than I have been alive. So maybe he doesn't win as much as he used to. That certainly does not mean that his knowledge and experiences aren't valuable resources. In fact, I would go as far to say that I would be honored to have the opportunity to work for a guy who has seen as much football as this coach has.

In high school, 90% of winning has to do with having better athletes than your opponents. Good blocking schemes don't win high school football games. Good kids do.

Coaches,

Knowing football and having the ability to transfer that knowledge to players is two seperate animals. One of my top criteria when looking for assistants is not how much they know, I can teach them what they need to know if they are willing to listen and apply themselves. But, my main concern is: how are their COMMUNICATION skills? Can they transfer that knowledge from their mind to the players minds in such a manner as to be TOTALLY COMPREHENDED? I am probably one of the oldest active coaches on the forum here, if not the oldest, and I will tell you in a heart beat that coaches don't win ball games, players do! It is our job to put them in the most advantageous position to win, but they have to make the play! If the coaches have not done a good job of passing their knowledge to the guys, your not going to win much! There is a certain kind of coach who can talk all the nuts and bolts just right, but like you say. they never seem to win much. What good is that??? Then, on the other hand he may be a great coach, and have a bunch of duds for players! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE PLAYERS, NOT THE COACHES.

Coach Easton

Govertical,

Your post concerning 90% of winning has to do with the caliber of player on the HS level- I might just add I feel that is 100% true on ANY level of football. IMO.

Coach Easton

what do you consider a favorable nu,bers advantage for inside zone? 6 in the box vs. 1 back/3 wide? 7 in the box vs. 2 backs/1 TE