ZONE BLOCKING PRIMER

You MUST teach some form of ZONE BLOCKING in today's. Football. You cannot get by with MAN blocking slanting & angling defenses, not those who use "twists" & zone blitzes (SEE ATTACHMENT at bottom).

Remember the following:

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!!!

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If further clarification needed = phone me:

Coach Bill Mountjoy
804-716-7038 (Virginia):

ATTACHED = the "OUTSIDE ZONE" vs. the "5 Basic Fronts" in Football, reduced to 3 "situations". NOTE: "INSIDE ZONE" = the same EXCEPT tighter aiming points for OLM & RB!

PS: The ONLY blocking variation is vs. the "OVER" front we would have Center zone from the "shade-Nose" to MLB with the BACK-SIDE Guard rather than the FRONT-0NSIDE Guard!

The Outside Zone is the "bread & butter" play for MANY teams in today's football (Alabama, Denver Broncos, ETC.)!

The single most important TECHNIQUE (that requires the most work) is that of the uncovered blocker(s) play-side.  Here is a description of THAT technique.

If there are any QUESTIONS I canm be reached at 804-716-7038 (Virginia).

Coach Bill Mountjoy

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The LANDMARK of the PLAY SIDE UNCOVERED LINEMAN is the helmet of the DLM on the COVERED LINEMAN (step at a 45 degree angle & aim your helmet in front of the DLM's helmet, and SEE the REACTION of the DLM). The RB watches that also. The BEST EXPLANATION = below:

1. IF the DLM works outside before you get to him on your third step climb to second level (LB). The ball carrier cuts UP into the bubble after his third step.

2. If there is a just a "piece" (NO MORE than a half) of the defender showing inside of the covered lineman, shove him over to the covered lineman (then he continues to push off and climb up to the linebacker) The uncovered lineman knocks the defender outside and the ball carrier cuts the ball UP into the bubble. This usually occurs BY the uncovered lineman's (AND the RB's) third step.

3. If the uncovered lineman steps and there is A GOOD PORTION (three-fourths OR MORE) OF THE DEFENDER'S BODY SHOWING (OR IF the DLM slants inside AT you), the uncovered lineman TAKES OVER the defender. He tries to get to the front side ARMPIT as if HE were covered. The covered lineman THEN stiff arms the DLM in to the uncovered lineman, and goes up to the second level (LB) and the ball carrier takes the ball outside. IMPORTANT: IT IS THE UNCOVERED LINEMAN WHO DETERMINES WHERE THE BALL CARRIER RUNS!

NOTE: The BEAUTY of all this (& ZONE BLOCKING) is that your TWO men are better than the defense's ONE man (DLM) if the two blockers WORK TOGETHER!!! It isn't hard but you spend so much time on it you can't have a bunch of OTHER crap!

SEE THE ATTACHED FILM (CUT ON SPEAKERS):