Outside zone out of Gun

We differentiate between inside zone and outside zone. In short with the inside zone (this is very short and simplified), the line stays tight on the double team and are patient with the linebacker before someone releases - let the linebacker come to the double team or take the double team to the linebacker. For the outside zone, we release to the second level if covered (Tag him) and take a drop/crossover step on the backside to overtake the playside lineman. There's obviously much more to it than this though.

Our info for the outside zone is based more on WVU. For the RB on the outside zone, he takes two full steps past the mesh, parallel to the LOS, and reads the first down defender past the B gap. The idea is that after the two steps past the mesh, you have put the back in the same place as if he were in the I coming downhill for the stretch. The problem we have experienced though is that the RB is not coming downhill - he's going flat - so it's difficult to get the cutback. I don't believe that in high school you get a bend/cutback on it like you would in college because defensive lineman in high school are not as athletic and most defensive schemes in high school are not geared to the zone so you don't get the defensive line running flat down the LOS like you do in college. We use the term "bang it or bounce it" for the RB running the outside zone. We're not really looking for a cutback. The QB is still reading the backside. At the WVU clinic, Trickett (oline coach) was saying that the most important block is on a 5 tech. You must get movement on a 5 tech right away - one way or another - so the back can make his read.

For the RB on the inside zone, our steps are different in the backfield (more like Utah - more downhill) and it's geared more to a QB read on the backside with a pitchman. Now the RB is reading the first down defender past the A gap. WVU will push and ride the RB downhill on the mesh. We're going with the Utah steps for the back which are inside flat-jump cut to the the mesh - "slow to-fast thru". We use the term "bend it or bang it" for the RB on his read. You are more likely to get a cutback on this play.