PreSeason Prep

This is a simple version - used by Nebraska in their glory years (Tom Osborne = HFC & Milt Tenopir = O-Line Coach): Keep splits at 18"!

MILT TENOPIR – NEBRASKA ZONE BLOCKING


I. INSIDE ZONE BLOCKING:

The concept operates on the principle of our linemen being covered by a defensive lineman or being uncovered.

We are primarily concerned with getting horizontal or vertical movement on the defensive down lineman. The neat thing about this scheme is that our linemen merely need to know if they are covered or uncovered at the snap. We do give them a rule of: “on, playside seam, linebacker”, but a rule isn’t really necessary.

If our linemen have a defensive lineman on them we execute what we call a “stretch base block”. The first two steps by our covered lineman are critical.

If the defender is head up or on the playside shoulder, the first step is a lateral step to the call. We are trying to invite movement with the first step. Some coaches refer to this as a “bucket” step. We don’t want to lose ground on it, so we merely refer to it as a “stretch step”.

The second step is directed toward the middle of the defender’s body cylinder. Caution must be taken so this step doesn’t cross over our first step.

If you cross over, you lose all your driving power. Once the first two steps are taken, you are ready to strike with fists and drive the defender in the direction of his movement. Take him where he wants to go.

The uncovered lineman will also execute a “stretch step”, however, rather than going laterally, we step at the down defender that is covering our playside teammate. By stepping at the defender, we can stop a slant by the defender, enabling our covered teammate to re-direct and help get push on the defender.

The second step by the uncovered offensive lineman is directed at an imaginary point that is directly behind the near foot of the defensive lineman prior to the snap. If the uncovered lineman executes the first two steps properly, his head should be on the up-field side of the defender. If the defender plays straight ahead, a double team should occur between the two offensive linemen.

The linebacker is technically the responsibility of the uncovered lineman, but he must stay with the double team as long as possible until he has to get off on the linebacker. This means until you get to the linebacker or the linebacker comes to you.

The inside-out double team will create creases for the back to run through.

It’s important to stress that both linemen stay on the down defender as long as possible. Because of the rolling action of the running back, the linebackers normally flow to the call, then the uncovered lineman can bounce off late and get the linebacker on the rebound, allowing a cutback by the ball carrier.

The covered and uncovered theory holds true for everyone on the line of scrimmage except for the backside tackle. The backside tackle will execute a stretch double with the backside guard if the guard is covered.

If side by side linemen on the playside are both covered, then the one to the side of the play is on his own, executing a “stretch base block”.

If the playside guard, tackle, or tight end has a down defender lined up on the inside shade, get after him immediately, stepping with the inside foot. We assume he is already in a slant positon so there is no need to stretch him.

RB: Align at a depth of 7 yards. Roll to the inside leg of the playside tackle. Receive the handoff about 4 yards deep. Do not make a decision on whether to stay onside or execute a cutback until you replace the feet of our linemen. Press the point of attack.


II. OUTSIDE ZONE BLOCKING:

Our main objective on the outside zone play is to initially try to get the ball outside. With that in mind, we are trying to force a hook block on all down defenders.

All of our linemen that are covered with a down defender executes what we refer to as a “rip-reach block”.

To execute such a block, we have the covered linemen take a hard lateral stretch step to the call side. We want to out-flank the down defender on that first step.

On the second step, we allow our covered linemen to use a crossover step to the callside.

The next thing we have him do is rip his inside arm through the callside armpit of the defender, similar to the rip that a defensive lineman will sometimes use on a pass rush.

We want our covered lineman to lean on the defender after he rips through the armpit and force his stomach upfield. If he does not do this, then his stomach will be facing the sideline and he loses sight of the linebacker. He will now try to escape for the linebacker.

If the playside guard and tackle are both covered, the tackle would have his defender by himself. He would go through the stretch, crossover step and rip technique, and then lean on his man, not thinking about escaping for the linebacker.

The backside tackle, upon getting to the line of scrimmage, checks if the backside guard is covered. If he is, the tackle will work with the guard even if he is also covered.

The uncovered linemen use a technique that we refer to as “pull and ovetake”. Before we can overtake the down defender to the call, we first must get our helmet past him, then get on him and roll him upfield.

The pull must be a lateral pull. We want to gain depth and distance on our first step on the pull. The one foot split is essential if you are going to get the overtake.

There will be occasions when the covered linemen can’t get un-hooked from the covering defender. If this does happen, the pull and overtaking offensive lineman should keep pulling and at times will have to come all the way around for the linebacker.

As mentioned earlier, the backside tackle works with the guard if the guard is covered. This means he would pull and overtake the man on the guard.

Some teams use in-line stunts to try to disrupt our zone schemes. The secret offensively is technique. If two adjacent offensive linemen are covered and the proper stretch is taken on the first step, it will become natural to pick up slants and loop-arounds.

RB: Take a path approximately 1 yard outside the original alignment of our tight end. The RB must get to the point of attack before he makes a decision to stay outside the tight end or skip-cut under his block.

NOTE: If you need to discuss this - phone me at: 804-378-0116 (UP TO 9 PM/EDT)!

A couple of things that have helped us are aiming points for our footwork. I agree that stopping penetration is the most important part of the firts part of the block. Although it goes against what many people teach for the first step, we teach our kids to step together towards the person they are comboing and to get hip to hip with the first step rather than always playside. This helps eliminate a seam for the DL to split the double and really gets a good push on the 1st level. 2nd step is much more of an upfield step. we tell them to keep one hand free until they need to come off for the backer. Feel the DL, see the LB. We have only had problems when our OL comes off to chase a backer too soon, tackle getting his outside arm involved rather than staying square, or we don't get a push on the DL. We expect the line to push basically in an arc, not a straight line, gaining one step upfield for each step to the side. Once the guard reads where the backer is going he will work to overtake the DL or pick up the LB coming under. STress keeping shoulders square to the LOS and staying butt to butt, never coming off till the LB shows. WE drill footwork every day using rubber boards in a big upside down T shape. one about 6 inches wide that we use to keep our first step short and the other to keep our base wide while we drive. These board drills have really helped with muscle memory for our kids.