MINNESOTA'S REVERSE OFF INSIDE ZONE

Alex Gibbs is a FANTASTIC teacher of Zone Blocking. Here is how HE teaches it:

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 & 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.

2. QB: COME OUT AT 4 (8) O'CLOCK & MAKE HANDOFF. FAKE BOOT AWAY.

3. O-LINE/UNCOVERED: UNCOVERED MAN ZONING TAKES AN OPEN (LEAD) DIAGONAL STEP WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT FOR SHOULDER PAD OF HIS COVERED TEAMMATE. STAY ON TRACK & OVERTAKE DLM — DON'T BLOCK Lber UNLESS HE IS EVEN WITH YOUR INSIDE SHOULDER & THREATENING THE GAP.

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 — TIGHTEN ON DOWN; 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 OUTSIDE LEG OF THE ON G — 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 OF DLM & IF HE WIDENS — GO UP ON Lber (DO NOT CROSSOVER WITH BACKSIDE FOOT IN TIGHT ZONE — BUT YOU DO 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) "??" = 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).