Defeating Zone Blocking

Coach,

We faced a team that runs a very effective outside zone play (they tore us up last year 38-16, and their running back rushed for over 200 yards). We run a 50 front and after doing some extensive film and tendency breakdowns we came up with the following game plan.

We had our defensive ends key the helmet of the TE, when he zone stepped to the outside he immediately BLITZED straight up the field to a point 4-5 yards upfield. This creates a "corner" for the back to either bounce to the outside, or cut back inside.

We had our NG and DT's slant as hard as they can into the zone play (by tendencies they would motion a WB to the side they ran to so our LB's would tell the NG and DT's where to slant) this would not only create a wall going to the playside, but it would keep the OL stuck on the DL (by creating double team blocks) and allow our LB's to cut underneath and make the play.

The LB's would key the OG's and when they zone stepped, they came downhill at a 45 degree angle.

By slanting into the play we were also able to stop the inside counter they ran by having the backside DE always expecting a counter/reverse (the motion away from him by the WB would trigger this read), and having the backside DT keep running his feet and not giving up on the play.

When they ran the Zone play without any motion, I tought the DT's to "fight across the face" of the OL to get to the play, and if they slanted away from the zone play I tought them to "backdoor rush" of the OL and quickly re-direct to the play (running hoop drills helped them with re-direction).

With this philosophy were we able to beat them this year 27-0 and held them to 1 carry of positive yardage in the second half.

I hope this information helps you, and best of luck coach.