Installing Zone Blocking Schemes

Coach,

Start by teaching the footwork and progress to the zone combo's. Once they get an understanding of the footwork and techniques on the zone combo's then progess to 1/2 line and full line fronts. We rep the zone combo's everyday all year long. You can never get enough reps with the zone combo's.

For the outside zone play, if you are already using a lot of down blocks and pulling in your schemes, you should look at running the stretch play like Minnesota. The entire scheme is down blocks and pulls.

JD

Remember this, with any zone running scheme (Inside, Outside, Stretch, or Vertical push) the footwork should match the way the ball is being delivered to the running back. Coach CAmpbell

Coach,

We had a similar situation last year. The way we incorporated the zone game with our regular power running game is by changing all the down blocks in our power running game to combo blocks. For example on a counter trey, we used to have the front side people all down block on the first man inside, but this year, we had them combo block such that against a 50, our TE and T would combo the 4 tech DT to the PSILB and our G and C would combo the NG to the BSILB. This allowed us to maintain our man blocking responsibilities while incorporating zone blocking concepts. As a result, similar to the Coachjd's suggestion, we got tons of reps on the zone combo technique, whether our steps were to the playside on inside zone, or to the backside on our power game.

Additionally, on the outside zone, we tried to teach our bucket steps very similar to the pulling technique we were already using, and just having our players turn upfield quicker to reach the near backer or scoop the near lineman. This way we were using all of the same techniques whether we were running a power running play or a zone running play.

This is what I'm looking for but I want to get a clear picture on everything. If you get a 2 tech on both G's with stacked backers. 2 5 tech's and 2 outside linebackers playing 9's, how would this scheme work?

Coach Stick,

That is tough, and we ran into that problem. My answer is not going to help you much, be we made a general rule that if we have 3 covered O linemen in a row (2 tech, 5 tech, 9 tech over G, T, TE), we all down block on power plays, and we all man block on zone plays (except for the C/PSG, who would combo the PS 2 tech to the stacked backer).

However, we probably wouldn't run a single back zone if we saw a 6-2 front because we would have to make a decision between blocking the BS stacked LB or the BS 5 tech, so we would probably either:

(1) go to our power game by adding a FB to block the BS stack (iso) or

(2) spread our formation to get rid of either:

(a) the BS stack (so we would be able to let our BST block the 5 tech without having an unblocked LB in the box -- we would control the 9 tech contain man with QB boot action) or

(b) the BS 9 tech (so we could have our BST combo with our BSG on the 2 tech up to the stack -- if the 9 tech is gone, the 5 tech will have contain, so we can control him with QB boot action)

depending on the adjustment or our opponent to a spread formation.

On our off tackle power play, we would have the TE block the 5 tech, the PST block the 2 tech, the PSG block the BS stack, the C block the BS 2 tech, the BSG pull and seal the PS stack, the BST block the 5 tech, the FB kick out the PS 9 tech, and the QB control the BS 9 tech with boot action.

Although we don't do this, another way to do it while incorporating zone principles is to let the TE and PST combo the 5 tech to the PS stack, then have the PSG man block the 2 tech, the C block the BS 2 tech, and the BSG pull and seal the BS stack, with everything else the same.

Hope this helps.

We actually had quite a bit of success running stretch v. this defense because the linebackers are so far inside that we could cut off their flow. First, we get tight splits (1 foot at the most) to facilitate scoop blocking and to constrict the defense, making it easier for our running back to get to the edge. Second, our bucket steps are basically the 1st 2 steps we teach in our general pulling technique (swing playside arm while stepping latterally with the playside foot, then punch across our chest with our backside arm while stepping across with our backside foot, so we are facing toward the sideline), and we begin to step upfield with our 3rd step (our aiming point depends on our responsbility -- see below).

Our rules might be a little different from the way other coaches run it. Each of our O linemen look at whether the O lineman to their playside ("playside partner") is covered or not. Our technique is the following (it's much easier to demonstrate than to write, so I hope this is understandable):

If their playside partner is uncovered, they bucket step, get hand placement with their backside hand outside of the playside shoulder of the D lineman covering them (if their playside partner is uncovered, they are most likely covered), thereby pinning him from moving laterally to the outside and helping their "awayside partner" who is scooping him, and finally track up to the first linebacker on the third step, getting their rear end to the sideline.

If their playside partner is covered, they scoop that D lineman by bucket stepping and reaching with their backside hand across to his playside hip (the fact we have tight splits and their partner is pinning him inside before tracking up to the linebacker makes this possible), then with their third step they pivot on their backside foot and use a technique similar to hinge blocking in pass protection to get their rear ends to the sideline.

Against this defense, because no one is outside the TE, he will bucket step, pin the PS 9 tech, then release up to the PSILB on his third step. Then because their playside partners are covered, the PST will scoop the 9 tech, the PSG will scoop the 5 tech, and the C will scoop the 2 tech. As the C is uncovered, the BSG will bucket step, pin the BS 2 tech, then release up to the BSILB. Finally, because the BSG is covered, the BST will scoop the BS 2 tech.

2 other points (sorry this is getting long):

(1) The scheme I have outlined is how we would run the traditional single back outside zone. Against a 6-2 defense, we would be more likely to match power with power and add a FB as a lead blocker. This gives us an extra man coming around the edge and looking inside to help block a fast-flowing BSILB because the block of the BSG is pretty difficult against this defense if the backer flies (the other answer to this problem is to counter off your outside zone look to make the BSLB stay home a little longer, making it easier for the BSG to get up to him).

(2) Some teams will play their 9 tech pretty wide. If this is the case, we have our TE drive him out to the sideline, and we treat the TE as uncovered, so the PST would use the tech described for the TE above to pin the 5 tech (helping the PSG's scoop), and to then release up to the PSILB. The RB reads the TE's rear end, so if it is pointed to him, he runs off the PST's block rather than the TE's block.

Let me know if this doesn't make sense.

Coach HosHos,

Remember, I'm just a power coach trying to fit the zone stuff into my offense as simply as I can. If you want to run a true zone offense, a lot of the other coaches on this board can give you great advice (probably better than I can give -- especially since I get a lot of my ideas from them).

I think the best way to explain our outside zone scheme in terms of responsibilities v. a reading defense is as follows:

(1) If your playside partner is covered, you will scoop the D-lineman over him.

(2) If your playside partner is uncovered, you will pin the D-lineman covering you inside in order to help your awayside partner scoop him, then you will track up to the near LB. This is generally the TE's rule unless then end man on the LOS is lined up wider than his outside shade, in which case the TE would drive that man to the sideline, and our RB will run inside of him.

Then, we drill our players on the general zone principle that if the defensive linemen slant to the playside, a covered man will lock on the man covering him, and an uncovered man will track up to the near LB. Our players understand this because they learn the same basic idea when we practice our combo blocking against a slanting defense.

As to your specific questions:

vs. 50: TE pins 9 tech inside then releases to PSILB (gen'l rule), PST scoops 9 tech (because TE covered by 9 tech), PSG scoops 5 tech (because PST covered by 5 tech), C pins NG inside then releases to BSILB (because PSG uncovered), BSG scoops NG (because C covered by NG), and we will adjust the BST's responsibility v. this defense by opponent: (1) if the BSDE is walked off, we will track up to him; (2) if the BSDE is on the line in a phantom 9 tech, we will either block the 5 tech or release into the secondary and block a safety depending on which is the greater threat.

vs. what we call the "split 50" (Strong to weak: 9, 5, 2, 2, 5): It is the same as how we would block the 6-2 in my post above because the only difference with that defense is the added 9 tech on the weak side. Basically, TE pins 9 tech and has PSILB, PST has 9 tech, PSG has 5 tech, C has 2 tech, BSG pins 2 tech and has BSILB, BST has 2 tech.

Let me know if I can help in any other way. Good Luck!

I see your problem. Originally, we were using the same scheme you are, and we were having trouble getting the PSG up to the PSILB as well. This is why we decided to have everyone block the man to their playside, it freed up our TE to wrap around and cut off the PSILB's flow -- a much easier block.

Originally I had the same concern, where a covered lineman had to scoop the man covering his playside partner, because he could not pin the man covering himself to help his awayside partner. Two things helped us overcome this:

(1) We teach our players to vary their splits liberally to put themselves in the best position to make a block. We're not concerned with giving a play away because we change our splits for many different reasons. For example on an outside run, we want to tighten up our splits on the playside to make it easier for the RB to get to the edge, and we want to widen our backside splits (as long as they're not scooping) to make backside defenders have to run further to get to the POA. On the other hand on an inside run, we want to widen our playside splits to create more running room inside, and tighten our backside splits to eliminate backside penetration. As a result, the defense can't really tell what we're going to do based on our splits. Thus, as to your concern about the PST not being able to pin the 5 tech because he has to scoop the 9 tech, we would have him tighten up his split a little more, which brings the 5 tech a little closer to the PSG and, similar to pinning him, makes the PSG's block easier.

(2) We have our linemen line up as far off the ball as they legally can (in CA, their helmets can be at the base of the center's numbers). This gives them a little more room to operate when bucket stepping, and makes it easier for a lineman, whose playside partner is not able to pin his man for him, to get to the far hip of the man he is trying to scoop before the D-lineman gets penetration.

We don't send in 2 plays every time (although I really like the idea). Basically, we always allow our QB to audible to the short (3 step) passing game if he sees something (substitute CB, CB playing way too aggressive/loose, etc.). Also, we always allow our QB to reverse the side of the play called if the defense has overloaded (although we spend a lot of time in preparation setting up the plays we will call based on our understanding of the opponent's defensive adjustments, so this does not happen a lot). The thing we do that is similar to you guys is that we will pair plays for a particular team/defense if we see them making change-ups in their alignments that we feel we can exploit.

For example, if we're in a 2 back set:

If we see a 4-4 where they play around with the shade of the strong DE (7 tech/9 tech), we will call "Power/Outside Zone Check with me," so if they run a 9 tech, we run Power, and if they run a 7 tech, we run Outside Zone.

If we see a 50 where they reduce to a 46 Double Eagle front, we will call "Iso/Power CWM," so if they run 50, we run Iso, and if they run 46, we run Power.

If we see a 50 where they reduce the weak side, we will call "Iso/Blast CWM" (our Blast play is like a Belly, so we like the cross block between the WG/WT on the 3 and 5 tech's v. a reduced 50), so if they run 50, we run Iso weak, and if they reduce, we run Blast.

If we're spread, we do a few things:

If they alternate between what we call "nickle" (4-2-5) and "dime" (4-1-6), we call "Inside/Outside Zone CWM," so if they run Dime, we run inside zone, and if they run nickle, we run outside zone.

If they run Dime and play around with the alignment of the MLB (Strong A or Stack behind 1 tech weak), we call "Inside Zone/Trap CWM," so if the MLB lines up in the Strong A, we run Inside Zone (easier for C to get up to the MLB, and RB can cut behind him as long as our WG gets good position on the 1 tech), and if the MLB stacks behind the 1 tech, we run Trap (easier for PSG to down block the MLB, and RB runs between him and the trapped 3 tech).

Those are just some ideas. We change these things up from weak to weak depending on our opponent. I'm sure this is very similar to what you guys do.

We also target the weak link in a defense, but we're usually pretty aware of where he is going to line up during the game, so we don't audible to it. If we find a new weak link, we just adjust our play calling. However, I imagine if you see a particular person, who you want to target, gets moved around, then audibling to it makes a great deal of sense.

Also, we don't do much pairing of runs and passes because we allow our QB to audible to the 3 step passing game if he sees something. However, one thing we do is that because we see a lot of 4-4's, and since we're a run-heavy team, we are constantly trying to find ways to get the 8th guy out of the box. The best way we've found is to use a lot of twins sets (2 RB's, TE one side, X and Z on the other). Each team adjusts differently, so from day 1, we work with our QB on the possible defensive adjustments (primarily the WOLB and FS) and our related audible. This is how it usually goes:

If they have their WOLB split the difference between the WT and the Z, (because they don't respect our passing game from this formation) we will run some sort of deep route with the X (fade, post, etc.) to run off the CB, and some sort of flat route with the Z (bubble, quick out, etc.) which we usually hit for a nice 6-8 yd gain because the WOLB is too far inside to cover it. We change our audible from week to week.

Once they move the OLB out to head up the Z, we've got 7 in the box, so we're running all the way. If they leave their other LB's where they are (stacked over the G's and outside the TE), we run off tackle weak. If they slide their backers weak, so they are showing more a true 4-3 look, we run off tackle strong.

Now, they they're not sure what to do, so they leave the WOLB in his normal position to stop the run, and they move the FS up over the Z to handle our twins-side passing game. As a result, we run the TE on a backside post route, and as long as he is inside the TE-side CB (this is usually pretty easy because teams want to walk up that CB when we go twins), we get a long gain right down the middle of the field because the FS is no longer there.

Audibling this stuff is pretty easy. We just call the play "Check with me" in the huddle, and we practice it so much that it is second nature to the kids. Then all we do is have the QB call a two-digit number in his cadance that will end with either 1 (off tackle weak because WOLB has walked out and other LB's did not adjust), 2 (off tackle strong because WOLB walked out but other LB's adjusted weak), 3 (Twins side combination pattern because WOLB is not all the way out over Z), or 4 (TE backside post because WOLB stayed in and FS walked up).

We also do the same thing out of our "Over" formation which brings the X over to the strong side and switches the TE and WT, so we get a twins look to the strong side.

Thanks Coach, that's a good idea. We pretty much only ran inside zone out of a spread set (probably because we're still power guys and like a lead block v. the 8 man fronts we see v. our tight sets). I see how both of those formations would hurt a 4-4 (X and Z on one side forces the OLB to widen, so you have a nice bubble in the b/c gap, X and Z on opposite sides eliminates their trail cutback player by forcing the OLB to contain up on the line and splitting the backside CB out wide, so he can't trail).

vs. the 7 man fronts you guys see, for run/pass pairing, I would probably look at whether you're getting what we call sky (SS in flat) or cloud (CB in flat) coverage (assuming 3 deep). If you get sky coverage, you can run play action roll out that way because the SS will be in a bind (force QB or cover flat). If you get cloud coverage, with no secondary man near the box, I would run all day. Similarly, if I see 2 deep with only 7 in the box, I will run all day.

I also like your GT out of this. I would be hesitant to use the second scheme you mentioned, only because MLB's are generally tought to fill when they see the C run block backside. If this happens, the TE will not get there, and the MLB may run into the QB (who, I believe, is running the ball from your description -- you have the A back blocking the backside DE). My thought is to stay with your current scheme, and you should actually be able to account for the BSB.

v. 4-3 look w/ SS over H: Z and H stalk CB and SS respectively, TE blocks down to Sam, SG/ST combo DT to Mike (now if Mike fills, SG can come off), C blocks away to BSDT, BSG kicks out DE, ***BST pulls and looks inside for flowing BSB (we have our front side T call "Oscar" if the OLB/SS is head up or outside the DE, which tells the BST to look outside; or we call "Ivan" if the OLB/SS is inside the DE, which tells the BST to look inside -- Here, it would be an Ivan call because Sam is lined up inside the DE (40 tech), and the BST will look inside and find first unblocked backer).

v. 4-2 look w/ Sam out over H and SS creeped up over TE: Z and H stalk CB and Sam respectively, TE blocks down to PS stacked LB, ***SG/ST combo DT to BSB, C blocks away on BSDT, BSG kicks out DE, and since the SS is head up or outside the DE we get an Oscar call, so the BST looks outside for the SS.

Hope this makes sense.

Exactly. Oscar and Ivan tell the "Pull and seal" man which direction to look when coming through the hole. We run the power play just like you described, and Oscar/Ivan tells the BSG where to look.

Actually, I was going to ask you if you run any gun with 2 backs and 3 receivers. We're going to have a QB with a great arm but no speed, some decent receivers (though no true TE), and two super tough running backs who have good, but not outstanding, speed. We would love to run the 4 wide gun read, but since our QB can't run it doesn't make much sense, so we plan to keep 2 backs in to help protect in the passing game and run a more power oriented running game. Anything you guys do out of this set would be very helpful.

My e-mail address is sweerts65@hotmail.com, so shoot me an e-mail, and we can talk about my and your systems.