Zone vs Man Blocking

John Shutts

Many factors should be considered when deciding which type of blocking to institute.

Type of Offense run - Based on the type of attack that is chosen will determine what blocking scheme to use. Option, Power and Counter teams will rely more on man blocking due to the need of angles to form creases by using shoulders and hands. Spread, stretch, and perimeter teams will rely on zone blocking. Most passing protection is based on zone principles to pick up blitzes. So in essence, probably all teams incorporate both schemes, the argument becomes what percent of each is used.

Personnel - To rely completely on zone principles, you will need quick, talented athletes, with speed.

Size of Roster - Zone blocking and zone backs reading takes time, practice, and patience. If you have numbers such as at a big H.S. or the Collegiate or Pro level, then you have the time to commit to making it work. At a small H.S. where many players are going both ways, it would be more difficult to make it all work, plus as mentioned before, personnel is limited when you have 30-35 on a roster 9-12. Backs must be able to always read an area vs. hitting a hole and be prepared to read multiple cuts.

Zone is ideal - Zone blocking makes it harder for a defense to read the play and provides the Back with many natural creases to hit. From that perspective, Zone blocking would definitely be better. But I feel the above mentioned items would need to be present for it to be successful. Many coaches probably don't understand the concept of zone blocking and that is why it is not used as much at the H.S. level, I being one of those coaches.

My choice would be man blocking as this is what I am familiar and comfortable with. However, by learning more about zone blocking in running situations, I'm always open to making things better.

Dana Hall

There are many different thoughts on what zone blocking means and what man blocking means. From the sounds of it it would seem that in zone blocking the linemen are blocking an area (zone) and in man blocking they are blocking a man. Well actually in both the linemen are blocking a man its just that in a man blocking scheme that man is predetermined by their position on the field. For instance, the center, both guards, both tackles and the tight end (if there is a tight end), know who they are blocking based on where the defensive linemen are lined up on the field. Conversely, in the zone blocking scheme the offensive linemen are not blocking a man based on where he lines up but rather where he ends up. In other words the guard and the tackle while block the two defenders to their side based upon where those defenders end up once the ball is snapped.
One other distinction that I feel determines what blocking scheme can be used is your personnel and running attack. If you have more athletic and quick offensive linemen and you intend to use a zone read inside and outside running attack then you would probably lean toward a zone blocking scheme. Now if you have bigger stronger linemen that maybe a little less fleet of foot and your running game will be more of a inside power running scheme then you probably would favor a man blocking scheme.

Personally I would prefer a zone blocking scheme that utilizes combo blocking in a particular zone. For instance the guard and tackle would block the 2 defenders in their zone which is outside the guard and inside the tackle. This allows one of the linemen to get to the second level in the inside run game. The more second level defenders that can be blocked the more opportunities for big plays in the running game. Zone blocking also allows for a counter and trap outside run game with pullers blocking defensive linemen in a certain zone. For instance in an outside running game which uses a pulling guard and tackle off of counter action the guard and tackle would block the 2 defenders in the outside zone, one would kick out the end and the other would lead up in the hole to get to the second level.

Basically I would use a zone blocking scheme because I prefer more athletic linemen to the bigger slower power linemen. I also prefer the zone blocking scheme because it allows the running back a chance to make a read and gain yards on every play. Where in a man blocking scheme if the defensive linemen beats his man to the play side the result of the play more times then not is a loss of yardage. I prefer to limit the negative plays so I chose the zone blocking scheme over the man blocking scheme.

ALL zone blocking has elements of man blocking IN IT, and SOMETIMES it becomes NECESSARY to zone.

SEE video:


THIS ALSO:

BIG MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ZONE BLOCKING:

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. All 7 "MAN" with a "DRIVE" block (on IZ), or a "REACH" block (on OZ):

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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.

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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.


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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 1 remaining OLM "MAN" blocks.


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

Josh Waybright

Tough topic. I've taught both. I can't imagine blocking without the hands out. Zone blocking has it's benefits but I believe it is tough to teach at the high school level. Unless you have some big bodies that can move the guy across from them. Combo blocks are also tough at the high school. They leave to early, they don't get to the linebacker, or they get beat off the los. Zone blocking is tough because most hs linemen don't have the quickness or strength to get that vertical push. We have gone to more of a horizontal push so the rb can see our butts and cut accordingly. The positive is that the defense can align in any defensive front and we should be able to block it.



Man blocking allows you to get that vertical push. You're linemen are going straight ahead more than working one gap or man over. Man blocking allows for true double teams where you should get the vertical push. The negative is if the defense moves pre-snap or even post-snap. You usually don't have time to readjust and get to your guy. I believe it's easier for hs offensive linemen to go forward. We have moved into this direction the last two weeks. We have cut our splits down and gone from more of a zone blocking team to a man blocking team. We are spread so our rb has to win one on one sometimes because we can account for 6 defenders with 5 blockers (our QB is a freshmen on Varsity so he has struggled with the pull on zone read).



I would incorporate man blocking. I've experienced both but I feel I know man blocking better. We do have a rule: man, gap, backer but these end up being man blocks. We expect to win one on one and get a body on a body. I see too many missed lb's when we were running zone. By getting that vertical push on a double team we're better able to take the defensive linemen and put him in the lap of the lb. I believe in going forward with the oline. Especially at the high school level. We're going to put our hand in the dirt and block the guy in front of us while following our rules.

Jordan Gibo

I think that based on the situation and personal you have both are viable options. Personally, I like to use more man schemes rather than zone schemes because it is easier to teach, and kids tend to understand it easier. However, when I’m in a gun formation I tend to use more zone schemes due to the alignment of the back. I also think that with man blocking your overall line athleticism can be a little lower than when you have a more zone centric scheme.



In my playing career I played in both schemes. I think in my early college career using a zone scheme was the right choose because we have smaller, weaker, more athletic lineman. In my Jr. year we changed coaching staffs, so we switch to a man scheme. But we also had a lot of turnover with our team and line in particular (we had 6 offensive linemen for Spring ball). However due to the guys we brought in the man scheme was a great choice because they were big and strong but not the most athletic group. We had pretty good success running the ball even though overall our team was not very good (we were in a rebuild phase). For my Sr. we changed to a zone scheme though and even though we still had success we did not have the same type of consistency or overall play though.

Rolando Barragan

A coach should create his blocking offense scheme based on player personnel. If you have a big physical offensive line, man blocking is a better fit, it can create a new line of scrimmage man/combo blocking that can where down the opponent developing good running game. When a coach has a smaller quicker offensive line zone-blocking scheme is a better fit I believe. Zone schemes blocking create running lanes for Tail backs and an O- lineman does not have to be physical as much on point of attack. Zone blocking scheme lineman need to block just long enough for the ball carrier to find a crease or seem to get a positive yards.



I am currently Defensive line coach Despite me believing that a offense of lineman holds 7 out of 10 snaps a game. I must say the rule in 1985 is a game changer low man wins and inside hands win. The battle in the trenches is constantly about inside hands control, that player who has leverage and control will win that down. Defense of line is about getting controlling man/ rid hands and having get off, offensive line is about driving feet and placement of the hands This is the beauty football, the battles within the war.

Francisco

Both blocking schemes are incredibly effective when they are taught and developed correctly. In my experience as a coach, I have found that success with either blocking scheme is highly dependent on the Offensive Line Coach's ability to effectively teach and drill the proper techniques. I also believe that effective use of either blocking scheme is contingent on the abilities of the offensive linemen a Football program has at their disposal. Therefore, the coaching staff should evaluate the abilities of their offensive linemen in order to implement a scheme that is the best fit for the athletes they have available.





In my opinion, man rule blocking is easier to implement because the linemen have a predetermined target to block. Man blocking requires less thinking and athletic ability to execute and allows the offensive line to fire out and come downhill. Man blocking schemes are less affected by defensive shifts, disguises, and blitzes because the offensive linemen already know whom they need to block.





Zone blocking schemes can expand the potential for success of an offensive scheme; however, it can be more difficult to implement and refine. Zone blocking schemes require time, effort, and patience to effectively install. The offensive line coach must be willing and able to effectively teach the offensive line the required fundamentals and techniques to succeed at zone blocking. Furthermore, the offensive line must be given the opportunity to gel and function as a cohesive unit in order for zone-blocking schemes to be successful. Zone Blocking schemes also require offensive linemen to read and react while on the move, which requires a certain athleticism to execute consistently.





Another factor that needs to be taken to account when choosing to implement either blocking scheme is the abilities of the runningback present in the football program. Strong running backs who are downhill runners and/or have limited agility would fare better in a man-rule blocking scheme. Conversely, a runningback who possesses good agility and quickness may excel in a zone-blocking scheme.

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 call-side. 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!