IZ/OZ blocking Same or Different?

Kevin - that picture of you with glasses on your post does not do you justice!

NONE of the O-Line coaches I know use the SAME TECHNIQUE on IZ & OZ (NEITHER for the line, OR the RB reads). Not Alex Gibbs, Bugel, Hanifan, Zierlein, McNally, Mudd, Tenopir, ETC.

Can't remember if I got this from Larry Zierlein (Buffalo Bills), or, Pat Ruel (Southern Cal), but it explains the difference: Read it CAREFULLY, then re-read it. This is how EVERYBODY I KNOW teaches it. You saw & heard Larry go over all this at our 2005 Clinic:

The following calls are the different zone-type blocks between offensive linemen at the point of attack:

1. “Single” zone blocking between the center and onside guard is necessary in order to handle the defensive tackle and middle linebacker. The onside guard will make the call when the defensive tackle is aligned head up or inside eye or shoulder on alignment. This call is to reaffirm the blocking assignment.


There are two types of “Single” blocks. One is a power single used INSIDE ZONE plays. The landmark is the play side number. The other one is used for OUTSIDE ZONE plays and will be called a “Single.” The principles are the same except the landmark will be the outside armpit of the down lineman. If the defensive tackle is in a “1” or a “2” technique, the guard will read step with the play side foot. If the defensive tackle is in a “3” Technique he will step with the play side foot, aiming at the play side armpit on the “Single”.


2. “Double” zone blocking between the onside guard and onside tackle is necessary in order to handle the defensive end and inside (onside) linebacker. The onside tackle will make the call when the defensive end is aligned head up or inside eye or shoulder alignment. The onside tackle will alert the onside guard to possible “Double” by making either a 4 or 4-1 call or a double call. Double Blocking Scheme will entail two types of zone blocking – either a “Power Double” or “Double.” In order to determine which type of zone blocking we will use on a “double” will depend upon the hole we are attacking.



A. “Power Double” (4 or 4-1 Call) - used on inside zone plays. Onside tackle will read the alignment of the defensive end. If he is aligned in a 5-technique (outside eye or shoulder) he will block the defender with a play side step with his near foot to the outside number. No call will be made. If he is aligned in a 4-technique (head up) he will make a 4 Call and take a read step at the middle of the defender to block the defender under the chin. If the defender is aligned in a 4-1 Technique (inside eye or shoulder) he will make a 4-1 call and step with his play side foot to block his outside number. Stay tight to the defender. Remember, we want first level movement.



B.”Double” - used on outside zone plays. Onside tackle will read the alignment of the defensive end. If he is aligned in 5-Technique (outside eye or shoulder) he will drive on the outside armpit with his near foot – no call will be made. If he is aligned in a 4 or 4-1 alignment, make a 4 or 4-1 call. Take an outside release with the play side foot to the outside armpit – whip your inside arm and shoulder up into the defender – bump off by getting width on your next step and explode to second level to seal or drive block the scrape off linebacker.



3. “Triple” zone blocking between the onside tackle and tight end is necessary in order to handle the defensive end and onside linebacker. The tackle will make the call to the TE. The TE will alert the tackles to where the defensive end is aligned, head up or inside eye or shoulder on alignment. The tight end will alert the onside tackle of the defensive end by making either a 6 or 7 call. Triple Blocking Scheme will entail two types of zone blocking – either a Power Triple or a Triple. In order to determine which type of zone blocking we will use on “Triple” will depend upon the hole we are attacking.


A. “Power Triple” (6 or 7 call) - used Inside Zone plays. Tight end will read the alignment of the defensive end. If he is aligned in a 9-Technique (outside eye or shoulder) he will block a point up the defender's outside number – no call will be made. If he is aligned in a 6-Technique (head up), he will make a 6 call and step with his play side foot to lock the defender under the chin. If the defender is aligned in a 7-Technique (inside eye or shoulder) he will make a 7 call and step with his play side foot to block the outside number.



B. “Triple” - used on outside zone plays. Tight end will read the alignment of the defensive end. If he is aligned in a 9-Technique (outside eye or shoulder) he will drive on the outside armpit – no call will be made. If he is aligned in a 6 or 7 alignment he will make a call – take an outside release by using a short outside step – to the outside armpit, whip your arm and shoulder up to the defender – bump off by getting width on your next step. Then explode to second level to seal or drive block the scrape-off linebacker.


RB READS: No discussion of RB reads can accomplish anything unless you have Alex Gibbs' tapes, where he not only covers it in more detail than possible here, but ALSO shows you end zone cut ups of WHAT the RB sees!!!!!!! A picture is SURELY "WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS"! Of course - he teaches IZ & OZ DIFFERENTLY (& better than anyone I know), both from a standpoint of O-LINE TECHNIQUE, but RB Reads as well.


PS: SOME of the SHOTGUN teams run ONE ZONE play that is somewhat of a COMBO of IZ & OZ, but I am not prepared to discuss that, because we are "PRO-STYLE" rather than 4 WR SPREAD SHOTGUNS!

Redskins & Broncos zone plays are IDENTICAL! For YEARS, we have patterned our runing game after these two teams. O-Line coaches such as Bugel, and Hanifan with the Skins, & Alex Gibbs with Denver. Years of film study on these teams (as well as visits to the Skins Camp) bears out what I am saying.


They ALWAYS ran the IZ the same, & Bugel made minor modifications to the OZ (basically giving him 2 reads as opposed to one) to fit Portis' style when they got him from Denver.

I think I would keep the IZ & OZ as you have them. You can ALWAYS "rollback" on the IZ if the defender you read works out - it IS a part of the play.


PRE-DETERMINED cutbacks off the IZ are called the "WHEEL" by Coaches like Bugel & Hanifan (the COLTS run it also). IF you wish to discuss this - PLEASE PHONE (804-740-4479) & I'm sure I will be able to help you - as it would take way too much typing to explain!

We block it the exact same only thing that changes is the backfield action i.e. aiming points. We read DE to DT on OZ and DT to NG on IZ (strong side) Our main goal is to make these read players declare and move so our back can push and cut. We run zone from gun so our back takes three lateral steps before he gets the ball; with this action everyplay starts out looking like OZ and it makes sense to us to allow the defense to get an OZ read from all 11 players to open up IZ and cutback on overpursuit.


coach mac

I completely agree with you OPTIONDOG. This is the point that I've been trying to make to my friend and since I HAVE experience coaching this exact thing at the HS I can also see how it just wouldn't work. I'd be afraid that the LB's, reading the path of the RB, would fly passed the covered man blocking IZ and he'd never have a shot at him.

Thanks for the support for my side.

KB

ANY "SOLID" look (both G's & Center covered - with a MLB).

I think the problem that the solid look causes can be solved by Folding the OG under the OT similar to the way that the University of Colorado did in the mid 90's.

I don't like the idea of pulling anybody on zone plays as I feel it undermines the whole system. The only time we will consider pulling is on an outside zone play to the tightend side when a LB is in a position that we cannot combo to - i.e. an 8 tech DE with a stacked LB. in that case - and virtually no other - we will consider pulling the frontside tackle to get to the LB. However, inside zone is a different story as we all know. If you see a solid front, you have to have an adjustment ready - ours are simple, we will "wham" it with the FB, throw the ball, or get to the perimeter.

A) IZ = SAME technique on the backside as the frontside (vertical movement off the ball), BECAUSE, the play "rolls backside" frequently.

I thought Alex Gibbs coached it up to cut the backside?

Also on the solid scheme I've experimented with having a "Quick" call I picked up from William & Mary on the IZ for that situation. Essentially the Center makes the call and the backside, Center and playside Guard block it just like OZ, Tackle doubles with the TE for a vertical push on the DE. You also need to have a FB leading to account for the Mike (assuming a 8 in the box) with the T-TE combo accounting for the Sam or move the Sam out with a slot between the TE and Z. If you catch 'em and get in the right formation to account for that with the initial play call there can be a big ole seam to roll it back into, if not (say the slot is away from the TE and Z, so no FB either) either motion the Z over, burn a time out or take your chances.

I agree completely you can't block IZ with an OZ scheme, that's asking for trouble. In my typing haste I said "block it just like OZ" and that's not right so I should clarify. The Quick call signals a lateral/reach step playside by the Center all the way back to the BS T (QB bootleg to "block" the BS DE), so it kinda looks like OZ on that 1st step (it is not a drop step like the OZ schemes but a flat step), but everyone is still staying square to the LOS, working for a vertical push off of essentially a base block on anyone who shows in the gap the lineman stepped to. The PS G will probably combo with the PS T vs. a 3 and the TE bases the DE, if the G's guy is head up he can base him like the C on back is doing, freeing up the T/TE to combo or call for the combo with the PS T if he (the G) can't handle the DL slanting PS. If the BS T doesn't have a slant away to his B gap he works to L2 for the 1st LB to show. If the DL slants PS the RB read is easy plus all that color moving playside makes the cutback very obvious. If the DL slants away, the RB read holds, he crams that B gap and cuts the outside V alley.

Still don't know if those words got it quite right, this medium is so inadequate sometimes. It is an advanced technique in that the OL has to be well schooled, but conceptually it's a lot simpler than all those words make it sound. It's just base blocking the solid front protecting the PS by all those covered guys in the middle moving one gap to the PS and pushing anything that shows vertically as best they can. If you catch them slanting PS and there is no penetration it can cut back big time. The downside (there's always at least one) is you have to have some talented guys up front, but if your Jimmys ain't better than their Joes you have more problems than a solid front to deal with.

Does that make more sense?

That is no more than the old "submarine" charge used by DLM in Goal Line defenses going back to 1869!

Line up OFF the ball as far as possible. Do not split over 18". Block DOWN & run Power-Oh.

GILLMAN GEAR has a GREAT video on the play by Larry Beightol (Packers). Look for it online.

NFL: The Power O
It's all about attitude

During Joe Gibbs' first tenure in Washington, when the Redskins led late, guard Russ Grimm would exclaim on the sideline, "It's time for the tanks!"

The tanks were two and sometimes three tight ends to supplement "The Hogs" in a bruising running game. Gibbs would mix 40-50 gut, a straight-ahead zone play, with counter trey, and more often than not, the Redskins ran to victory. Now Grimm is an assistant in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers employ Power O, an off-tackle running play some of the league's other better ground teams -- Chicago, Seattle and Tampa Bay -- also use.

The weakside guard pulls, and follows the fullback, who is responsible for blocking the outside defender. The tight end blocks down on the end, and the tackle and play-side guard work a combination block to the second level. With a counter step by the back, the linebackers can be sucked in, creating a natural bounce to take the play outside. It's a play Green Bay used with Ahman Green -- and the reason the Packers are struggling without guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle.

"Power O is an attitude play," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner says. "Let's double-team 'em and ram the ball up in there."
-- Brad Biggs

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