Zone Blocking Fundamentals

OUR ZONE TECHNIQUES & TEACHING PROGRESSION (WITH THANKS TO JOE BUGEL & ALEX GIBBS):

NOTE: O-LINE SPLITS = 18" (CONSISTENT):


INSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUE (DRIVE BLOCK TECHNIQUES):

A. COVERED: Take a 6" lead step aiming eyes at playside number. Second step to crotch (do not crossover). Hands at base of shoulder pads.

1. If DLM stretches with you — stay on block and uncovered teammate works up on LBer.

2. If DLM anchors on you — double team with uncovered teammate. Stay on block until wiped off & then work upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

3. If DLM slants inside — force him to flatten his slant and double team with uncovered teammate. Stay on block until wiped off & then work upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

B. UNCOVERED: Take a 6" lead step aiming eyes at helmet of DLM. Do not cross over on second step.

1. If helmet goes out on your 1st step — 2nd step upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

2. If helmet stays put — double team (hip to hip) with covered teammate & wipe him off on Lber.

3. If helmet slants inside - get eyes to his playside number. Double team with covered teammate & wipe him off on LBer.



OUTSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUE (REACH BLOCK TECHNIQUES):

A. COVERED: Take a 6" lead step aiming eyes at playside arm pit. Second step slightly outside crotch (do not crossover). Inside hand on midline & outside hand under armpit.

1. If DLM stretches with you — stay on block and uncovered teammate works up on LBer.

2. If DLM anchors on you — stay on block with eyes on playside arm pit.

3. If DLM slants inside — force him to flatten his slant by stiff arming him inside. Stay on block until you feel uncovered teammate & then come off aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

B. UNCOVERED: Take a 6" lead step aiming eyes at helmet of DLM. You may crossover on second step.

1. If helmet goes out & you haven't contacted DLM by 3rd. step — work upfield aiming eyes to playside armpit of LBer.

2. If helmet stays put — shove him over to covered teammate and work upfield aiming eyes to playside armpit of LBer.

3. If helmet slants inside — aim eyes to his playside armpit. Take him over & wipe covered teammate off to LBer.






ZONE RULES:

TEACH "COVERED/UNCOVERED" (TO DETERMINES WHO ZONE BLOCKS
AND WHO MAN BLOCKS).

A. IF YOU ARE UNCOVERED (BY A DLM) — ZONE WITH YOUR PLAYSIDE TEAMMATE.

B. IF YOU ARE COVERED (BY A DLM) — ZONE WITH YOUR BACKSIDE TEAMMATE (UNLESS HE IS COVERED THEN YOU MUST MAN BLOCK).

NOTE: IF YOUR MAN IS STACKED IN A "TANDEM" — ZONE WITH TEAMMATE WHOSE MAN IS ALSO STACKED.


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DRILLING ZONE BLOCKING:


1. INDIVIDUAL: (bags OR live) "1 vs. 1"


A) INSIDE ZONE

----1. Drive Block DLM

----2. Drive Block LBer

B) OUTSIDE ZONE

----1. Reach Block DLM

----2. Reach Block LBer

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2. SMAll GROUP: (INSIDE & OUTSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUES - vs. bags OR live)


A) "2 vs. 2" (uncovered man & covered man work vs. a ILer & DLM).

-----1. DLM widens & LBer steps inside of DLM

-----2. DML pinches inside & LBer scrapes outside

-----3. DLM anchors on covered man & LBer moves behind DLM (reading the RB)

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3. LARGE GROUP: (LIVE)


A) "5 ON 5" (Live - NO bags)


------------M
-----E--T-----T--E
-----O-O-C-O-O
-----------Q

-----------R

4-3 = Gives the Center a chance to zone with Guards (on zone TO callside)




----------B----B
------E-----N-----E
------O-O-C-O-O
------------Q

------------R

3-4 Gives the Guards a chance to zone with Tackles (on zone TO callside) or Center (on zone AWAY callside)


B) "7 on 7" (Live - no bags)


-----------W----M-----S
--------E-----T-----T-----E
--------O-O-O-C-O-O-O
-----------------Q

-----------------R

4-3 = Gives the Tackles a chance to zone with the TE's (on zone TO callside), or the Guards (on zone AWAY callside)


NOTE: The "5 on 5" & "7 on 7" should be your best ("O") vs. best ("D"). Full speed with no tackling the RB. Benefits of these:

1. COMPETITIVE DRILLS VS. DEFENSE;
2. BLOCKING TECHNIQUES VS. BLOCK REACTIONS;
3. TEACHES TOUGHNESS!!!!!


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4. TEAM (11 vs. 11)


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BIG MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ZONE BLOCKING (AS TAUGHT BY ALEX GIBBS & JOE BUGEL):

One of the BIGGEST misconception about ZONE plays is that the entire O-Line zone blocks. You only ZONE from the "BUBBLE" to the next man out towards the callside. APPLY the "Uncovered/'covered" rule: If you are uncovered - zone with teammate towards call. If you are covered - zone with teammate away from the call. If you are BOTH covered - MAN block!

EXAMPLES:

1. NO BUBBLE - NOBODY ZONE BLOCKS. They all "MAN" with a "DRIVE" block (on IZ), or a "REACH" block (on OZ):

---------------------------------V-V-V-V-V-V-V
---------------------------------E-T-G-C-G-T-E



2. ONE BUBBLE - YOU HAVE ONE ZONE COMBINATION (EXAMPLE: ZONE PLAY RT.) - Only the uncovered man (Center) & his play side teammate (RG) ZONE. The other 5 all "MAN" block.

-----------------------------------------B
---------------------------------V-V-V---V-V-V
---------------------------------E-T-G-C-G-T-E



3. TWO BUBBLES - YOU HAVE TWO ZONE COMBINATIONS (EXAMPLE: ZONE PLAY RT.) - the uncovered LG ZONES with the Center, & the uncovered RG zones with the RT. The other 3 all "MAN" block.


--------------------------------------B----B
---------------------------------V-V----V----V-V
---------------------------------E-T-G-C-G-T-E


4. THREE BUBBLES - YOU HAVE THREE ZONE COMBINATIONS (EXAMPLE: ZONE PLAY RT.) - the uncovered LT zones with the LG, the Center zones with the RG, & the RT zones with the RE. The remaining OLM "MAN" blocks.


------------------------------------B----B----B
---------------------------------V----V----V---V
---------------------------------E-T-G-C-G-T-E


REMEMBER: Zone blocking BEGINS at the "bubble" & zones TOWARDS the play side (RIGHT in all examples above). "NUMBER OF BUBBLES" = NUMBER OF DOUBLES!!!

Timothy Zbytniewski

With the situation that I am in at my high school, I prefer to use the zone blocking method. However, even when I was in college, I much preferred the zone blocking scheme. The reason why I like zone-blocking so much more than man to man blocking is it has no clear definition of whom you are blocking, just the zone to block in. The reason why I like this so much is two-fold, one, there is less need for constant communication, and two, it is a better fit for quicker or smaller linemen.



The reason less communication is better is that no matter what the defense does, you are still stepping to a zone rather than a man. So if the defense has multiple fronts, it likes to come out in, such as a 3-man, 4-man, Wide-9, etc. You are still stepping to a zone, and there is less confusion for the offensive line. Plus, some defenses like to stem and move before the snap, so instead of having to figure out the change in whom to block, you can still step to your zone and take whoever comes your way. The reason I believe it is better for smaller or quicker linemen is it allows them to climb to the next level and not have one hole defined as the hole we are going to run through. Since the definition of the one hole is gone, it helps to create different holes in different places that may occur because of the smaller linemen. So now the running also has the freedom to use their vision, make one cut and go north and south.



When it comes to straight arm blocking versus bent arm blocking, I prefer the latter. The reason for this comes from a biomechanical standpoint. Each joint has two different positions it can be in, one the loose-packed position, and two, the close-packed position. The closed-pack position is when the joint is in its strongest possible position, the loose-packed is whenever the joint is not in that position. For the elbow, it is at its strongest whenever it is bent at 90 degrees; this means if we are blocking with bent arms, the ability to break away from that separation is more complicated than full arms. Plus, with bent arms, you can be in a more controlled position with your legs. This position means you can drive back an opponent, get them on their heels, then rolls the hips and extend the arms to finish with a possible pancake block.

Offensive Combination Blocks & Techniques

Zone & Man blocking initially starts out as a combo or double team at the point of attack on the down defensive linemen, but the advantage of it is that one of the offensive linemen will leave to attack the linebacker while one stays to take over the defensive lineman. The key is for the two offensive linemen working in unison to combo a defensive lineman and track who and when one of them will leave to block the linebacker (let the linebacker come to you).


The following calls are the different COMBINATION BLOCKS used between adjacent offensive linemen when installing the running game.



Deuce      Ace Ram   Ace Ram  Trey


Contact: First contact must be with a proper position step and punch, followed by keeping his feet alive and driving through and up through the defender. Upon making contact, we want the blocker to drive the palms of his hands up into the defender's chest with a lifting type action. Once the punch has been delivered our offensive line must be able to turn their thumbs up which drops the elbows and facilitates the drive and finish. By turning the thumbs up after the punch this will aid the blocker in controlling the defenders shoulder pads and getting the roll-of-the-hips into the block and to control the defender. It is important that the power producing angles remain in the legs and that the shoulders remain higher than the hips. The blocker must now arch his back and get his feet underneath him.


A combination zone block normally consists of a covered lineman pulling an uncovered lineman with him as they track a down defender to a second level defender (linebacker). Zone blocking involves the center, guard, tackle, and tight end working in combination to block an area with an emphasis on creating double teams who are aligned on the L.O.S. and tracking linebackers instead of chasing them.

ALEX GIBBS – WIDE ZONE & TIGHT ZONE:

OFFENSIVE LINE SPLITS = 18”. OFF THE BALL WITH THEIR FINGERS ON THE CENTER’S SHOE LACES.


WIDE ZONE (18/19):

1. RB: LINE UP 7 ½-8 YARDS DEEP. DROP STEP WITH OFFSIDE FOOT & RUN ON TRACK FOR YOUR LANDMARK - THE BUTT OF THE TE (OR WHERE THE TE WOULD BE) – PRESS THE HOLE. READ HATS OF THE FIRST TWO MEN ON THE LOS COUNTING FROM OUTSIDE-IN (EXCLUDING Lbers). IF THE OUTSIDE MAN COMES IN – YOU GO OUT. IF THE OUTSIDE MAN GOES OUT – YOU GO IN & READ THE INSIDE MAN (RUN OFF HIM). RB IS PERMITTED ONLY ONE CUT, AND LIVE WITH IT! DETERMINE WHERE YOU WILL CUT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO ORIGINAL ALIGNMENT OF TE’S BUTT (NO LATER THAN YOUR THIRD STEP).

2. QB: COME OUT AT 4 (8) O’CLOCK & MAKE HANDOFF. FAKE BOOT AWAY FULL SPEED FOR 5 STEPS.

3. O-LINE/UNCOVERED: UNCOVERED MAN ZONING TAKES AN OPEN (LEAD) DIAGONAL STEP WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT FOR SHOULDER PAD OF HIS COVERED TEAMMATE (YOUR HAT GOES TO HAT OF DLM). STAY ON TRACK & OVERTAKE DLM (DON’T BLOCK Lber UNLESS HE IS EVEN WITH YOUR INSIDE SHOULDER & THREATENING THE GAP) IF DLM GOES OUT YOU PUSH HIM OUT (IF YOU HAVEN’T CONTACTED DLM BY YOUR THIRD STEP GO UP ON LBer). NOTE: YOU CAN CROSSOVER ON 2ND STEP ON WIDE ZONE.

4. O-LINE/COVERED: THE COVERED MAN STEPS WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT & AIMS HIS FACE FOR THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DLM (STAY ON HIS OUTSIDE ½, AND IF YOUR HALF GOES IN – STIFF-ARM HIM DOWN BEFORE GOING UP ON LBer); IF YOUR HALF GOES OUT – WIDEN (STAY ON LEVERAGE POINT SO AS NOT TO ALLOW PENETRATION).

NOTE: BLOCKING C.P. FOR ALL LINEMEN (ON BOTH ZONE PLAYS = ELBOWS TIGHT – CONTACT WITH TRIANGLE OF FOREHEAD & HANDS – GET HANDS INTO BREASTPLATE & GRAB CLOTH – LEVERAGE/DIP HIPS (DROP DOWN LOW).

5. BACKSIDE CUT BOCKS.

6. WR’S BLOCK THE SAFETIES (FORGET THE CORNERS).


TIGHT ZONE (14/15):

1. RB: FIRST STEP LIKE OUTSIDE ZONE & PLANT, CROSS OVER, & ROLL ON TRACK TO YOUR LANDMARK - THE INSIDE HIP OF THE ON T – PRESS THE LOS. READ THE HAT OF THE FIRST DLM OUTSIDE THE CENTER (NOT COUNTING A SHADE). IF HE GOES OUT OR DOESN’T MOVE – ROLLBACK READING THE HAT OF THE NEXT DLM INSIDE. IF HE GOES DOWN – READ THE HAT OF THE NEXT MAN ON LOS OUTSIDE OF HIM FOR YOUR CUT. BASICALLY – IF THE DLM YOU ARE READING DOESN’T PINCH INSIDE, ROLL BACK. DETERMINE WHERE CUT WILL BE WHEN YOU REACH HEELS OF ORIGINAL ALIGN OF ON G.

2. QB: COME OUT AT 5 (7) O’CLOCK & MAKE HANDOFF. FAKE BOOT AWAY.

3. O-LINE/UNCOVERED: (TECHNIQUES ARE TIGHTER ON TIGHT ZONE). UNCOVERED MAN ZONING TAKES 1 LEAD STEP WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT AT HELMET (INSIDE #) OF DLM & IF HE HASN’T COME INSIDE OR YOU HAVEN’T MADE CONTACT BY THE FIRST STEP – GO UP ON Lber (DO NOT CROSSOVER WITH BACKSIDE FOOT IN TIGHT ZONE – BUT YOU CAN IN WIDE ZONE). IF DLM COMES INSIDE FRONT HIM UP.

4. O-LINE/COVERED: THE COVERED MAN STEPS WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT & AIMS FOR THE OUTSIDE # OF THE DLM.

5. BACKSIDE: ZONE BLOCK LIKE FRONTSIDE.

6. WR’S: SAME AS WIDE ZONE.



BLOCKING CALLS: SAME CALLS FOR “WIDE” & “TIGHT” BUT THE TECHNIQUES DIFFER AS ABOVE:

A) “COMBO” = ON TE & ON T (ON T UNCOVERED & ON TE COVERED).

B) “SLIP” = ON T & ON G (ON G UNCOVERED & ON T COVERED)

C) “GAP” = ON G & CENTER (NOSE OVER TO A POINT CENTER CAN’T HANDLE)

D) “SLUG” = CENTER & OFF G (VS WEAK SHADE)

E) “SCOOP” = OFF G & OFF T (3 TECHNIQUE ON OFF G)

F) “ELEPHANT” = OFF T & OFF TE

G) “TRIPLE” = 3 MAN COMBO INTO REDUCTION BECAUSE HE DOESN’T FEEL ON G CAN HANDLE A 3 TECH. BY HIMSELF).

NOTE: MUST KNOW IF YOU ARE ZONING (HAVE ½ OF THE MAN) OR DO I HAVE HIM BASE (COVERED/UNCOVERED RULES).



IMPORTANT:

1. RUN AS MANY RUNS TO OPEN SIDE AS TIGHT END SIDE!!!!!

2. MAIN OBJECTIVE = “NO NEGATIVES” (MUST NOT GET LESS THAN 2 YARDS).


ZONE FOOTWORK:

NFL, our researchers have found that 73 percent of coaches believe more in an angle or lead step to the target rather than a bucket step. We’ve found that it’s more of psychological thing to some coaches, because the words "losing ground" can be construed for some form of blasphemy when dealing with offensive linemen.

Zone coaching legend, Alex Gibbs, who spent 26 years in the league, was more of a lead step proponent when teaching the zone. Gibbs was synonymous for having smaller lineman, rumor has it he never coached a lineman over 300 pounds, so it was probably imperative for him to teach his guys to get off the ball with quickness. "If you’re covered, your responsibility is for the outside half of down lineman if your inside team mate is uncovered," says Gibbs. "Our first step was always a lead step with the play side outside foot eyeballing outside number of down lineman on you. The second step is through the crotch of opponent." It’s that second step that offensive line coaches harp on being the most imperative step.

Zone Blocking versus Man Blocking Rules.


Alex 
I prefer Zone Blocking over man blocking. Zone blocking gives the linemen a track to run, as well as an overall concept of the play. I often get asked by my linemen early in spring football; “who Do I Block on this play” I respond by explaining that it is not about who, it’s about running a track. The defense is allowed to move around after the initial alignment. If I allow my linemen to believe they have a specific person to block, I would be setting them up for failure. What makes zone blocking so effective is that it gives the linemen a direction to run. This allows them to fire off the ball and understand their assignment no matter what front the defense presents. I also like the simplicity zone blocking allows us to have in a no huddle offense. We have a code work for an inside zone blocking scheme. Once the linemen hear that word, that is all they need. We can motion change formation and hand to different people. None of that matters to the line. The blocking scheme stays the same. This allows our offense to be fast paced while remaining solid in the run blocking game.

Jacob
Since I have started coaching at the youth level again, I have primarily gone to zone blocking. I feel like it is easier to teach to young kids. Ideally, I think it is beneficial to use a combination of both. One of the big reasons teams started using zone blocking is to limit the effectiveness of slanting. Because of the freedom of a running back to run to daylight and look for cutback lanes in a zone blocking scheme, a slanting defensive lineman will often open up a huge hole for the running back to get through. The better technique for a defensive lineman is to control their gap and hold their space, and allow linebackers to fill. This is why I think ideally a combination of zone and man is best, depending on the technique of the defense.



We have had success with a blocking scheme that we call zone seal. It starts with a regular left or right inside zone step, but instead of attacking them at a 45 degree angle and allowing the running back to read, we have the line pin them down and run power the opposite direction. There are no combo bocks on this play. Everyone is in gap, down, backer. This scheme, as well as a few others have worked well for me in combination with our zone blocking concepts.