Question for Coach Campbell and In The Trenches?

Coach the difference between the two steps. A lateral step is used on the inside zone pushes; on the snap of the ball the linemen will take their first step to the nearest ear of a down defender by stepping parallel to the LOS. Also known as an influence step.

The dropstep is used when the ball is being delivered wider to the running back by the quarterback. The wider the ball gets handed off the more dropstep by the offensive line. Meaning linebackers flow at the same angle the ball is handed off so the wider the ball is handed off the more dropstep with the playside foot is used in order to try and reach the first down defender on the LOS. The dropstep is done with the playside foot, then your offensive linemen try and reach the playside jersey number with their backside arm. The dropstep and reach is another way to try and stretch the defense when running this type of play. The dropstep on the snap gets out of parallel to an attempt to reach the down defender. If working a combo and the defender stretches then the uncovered lineman heads on up towards the linebacker. Coach CAmpbell