Zone blocking rules pdf

If they are covered like the tackles and center in the diagram, they think stretch and block. Same covered and uncovered rules are applied, but the uncovered man helps the next teammate away from playside. To be effective in a zone blocking scheme players must rep all of the various 2v2 and 3v3 combinations daily. Installation of the inside zone play prior to teaching the zone progression, we teach an individual drive block. He can be accounted for with a fullback or hback block, a qb boot action a zone read or perhaps an orbit or jet motion by a wide receiver. In mechanigramb, blitzing linebacker b5 was not in the freeblocking zone at the snap and was not a lineman. The outside zone allows an offense to do this in a variety of different ways. Zone blocking in the running game is when two or three offensive linemen work in tandem as opposed to each offensive lineman having a specific, predetermined man to block. To start off, we will set up a basic strong right formation with a single back, bas favorite. We are going to put in a new running scheme that will work against anything.

Zone blocking is a running scheme in which the offensive linemen block gaps, rather than a power blocking scheme where each lineman is responsible for a specific defender. A quick primer on the inside zone the iz is an inside run play predicated on inducing the defense to overpursue a play in an effort to stop the ball carrier from reaching the perimeter. Our inside zone blocking principle requires linemen to block a particular man first and to zone if uncovered. Coaches use the colt blocking dummy to train lineman on proper pad level and hand placement in zone blocking drills, such as the 2 on 2 blocking drill on display in the video below. The linemen still count their defenders to the play side when determining their responsibilities. This play has to work before reads and fakes are added to. When the playside guard reaches the 3technique and the playside tackle laterally displaces himself to combo the 7tech on the tes backside. Understanding the zone blocking scheme field gulls. Below i will explain the chip kelly method and than i will explain the differences in the 2 systems and why it makes the blocking not only easier for the players but the play calling easier for the coaches. Zone blocking drill offensive line drills krausko llc. In this weeks class we will try to explain zone blocking by the offense and why it has become a common scheme used to run the football. Whichever way the defender chooses to go, he is sealed off and the running back is prepared to cut off the block.

It combines playside linemen blocking to their backside gap and backside linemen pulling to the playside. The offensive line typically flows to one side of the field in unison, with blocking responsibilities developing as. The base block is the heart of any blockingscheme and the most important to mas. Zone blocking also requires that offensive lineman understand when to release. Whats most effective about teaching this methodology is that the front that the defense presents is irrelevant. Block mdm stay alert for bubble tags or audible ol zone combo covered uncovered rules f agap to agap run primary 1back formation open flat, cross qb at inside hip of playside guard read zone combo on 1st dl playside. Many zone teams begin by focusing on the outside zone. Because of the simple nature of inside zone blocking and the fact that it targets the middle of the field as well as most any run scheme available, inside zone is easily adaptable to any formation, style, or playmaker. A very simple explanation of the zone runs, and the. The single most basic rule of zone blocking is that you block the first person to cross your face.

We are always going to pull to get numbers at the point of attack or trap, but we arent going to expect. In this zone blocking scheme, there are only two different reads the linemen must make. Track zone counter and lead zone blocking away from the play side. The outside zone uses the same blocking rules as the inside zone. Used for outside zone blocking when covered with a head updefender. The 2012 rushing attack that made washington one of the best offenses in.

When blocking the sled we set our linemen in different positions so that they may take all the various steps they will use when blocking our inside zone play. The blocking techniques, though, are different, as the plays are designed to get the defense moving laterally across the. Helmet placement is more critical in zone blocking than footwork. The only run through scenario that has been problematic over the years is the playside inside linebacker in a 44 front. Blocking rules to really simplify this section, well treat the entire line as if its the same, rather than splitting apart the front side and back side of the ol. Just like the inside zone, the outside zone utilizes a full zone scheme.

Mark schofield looks at the dominant iowa run game, and how the hawkeyes use a simple zone blocking scheme, with complicated variations. Warroom eagle explains the rules and techniques for the inside zone, a play that auburn used as a building block for the entire offense. It is used for an outside zone play and or when the blocker is uncovered. Teaching running backs how to run the inside zone fishduck. This offseason, however, i received requests to explain the scheme again. Once that is established and the defense is flowing fast to the sideline, the offense comes back with the. The easiest way to know if a team is using a zone blocking system or a man. Its origins go way back to the postwwii era of football, if not further, and it was popularized in the nfl in cincinnati in the late 1980s. The zone scheme should be able to handle all zone pressures and run through. The ultimate guide to inside zone blocking pro style spread. Sure, some teams have chosen to man block the play, 73. Why the inside zone scheme is all you need ron mckie. These are similar to inside zone rules in that they use the covereduncovered read and playside direction.

Why almost every team runs inside zone football study hall. Thats why virtually every team runs it and why so many rely upon it to be the foundation of their offensive system. Zone blocking schemes zone based blocking schemes have become the primary blocking scheme of many modern day football teams. A primary goal of almost all offenses is to get the ball to a speedy player in space. I also have a special guest presenter, cody wilson, who shares how to number off players when blocking the inside zone and then gives an example of how to block it against a 34 front. Offensive line drills how to teach zone blocking with the sled. The ultimate guide to inside zone blocking share tweet buffer print email. Even front 14 23 zone from multiple formations 15 24 zone 16 24 zone from multiple formations 17 slot 24 zone read vs. Key get head inside hole with shoulders square and power foot forward on ground. Offensive linemen, when facing twisting defensive linemen, can also either lock on mantoman or pass it off in a zone concept.

As you can see, theres a lot you can do with inside zone, and you only have to teach your offensive lineman one blocking scheme and two tags. Again, the lineman should drill these techniques on a. Chip kellys numerical system to zone blocking breaking. Freeblocking zone and legal blocking the freeblocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. Inside zone oline rules inside zone oline technique notes. Zone blocking is simply a style of blocking that allows for. Inside zone blocking rules allow linemen to use the movement and attack angles of the defenders against them. We use the sled, chutes and boards to teach the proper technique. Alignment rules alignment is the first thing i look at when judging a teams discipline and attention to detail. Executing the zone blocking scheme requires specific footwork depending on the play call and the defensive alignment. Inside zone or ase play will most often carry this call slip or slid ackside call made by lineman not in combination. Stake technique used on bs of zone or both fs and bs of outside zone run plays rtb prototypical offensive lineman an offensive lineman needs to be an athlete that can run and move both for line of scrimmage contact and open field. The best part about the outside zone scheme is that it can be used in a multitude of different ways to attack the defense.

Zone blocking works great in the nfl with world class athletes, but like the 25 yard out pattern or the 55 yard field goal, it doesnt translate well into the youth level. Once linemen have sound blocking fundamentals, they are ready to move on to basic 2on2 zone blocking drills. The basics of auburns inside zone run college and magnolia. Effective zone blocking techniques in the running game. In this video, legendary college coach chris ault takes you through some of his favorite sled drills he used to teach the zone running game. On zone plays, the linemen keep the same blocking schemes, regardless of how many tightends or wide receivers they use. Design your scheme and blocking rules to match and reflect the blocking techniques youre asking the offensive players to execute. Jim mcnally is a former nfl offensive line coach and is also known as the zone blocking guru for his innovative approach using the double uppercut blocking technique. See how auburn and oklahoma tweak their zone blocking schemes. Differences between the zone and power running schemes.

Shoot, my guys blocked inside zone so much that they were taking their steps and shooting their hands while they were getting ready to. A pulling guard or tackle must place an initial block on the outside half of the nose tackle, then disengage, put on the jets and make a full drive block on an. The culmination of these steps, rules and blocking combinations is two major plays in the zone blocking scheme, the inside zone and the outside zone or zone stretch. Zone blocking involves the center, guard, tackle and tight end working in combination to block an area with an emphasis on doubleteaming the defensive linemen who are aligned on the line of scrimmage. So with tennessee adopting a 100% zone blocking scheme, i felt it was a good time to go through some of the basic concepts of zone blocking so that we can have a more intelligent conversation on it. As a general rule, the first defender outside of the hole number called is. In 2016, we originally wrote a football 101 breakdown of the zone blocking scheme. Blocking rules 5 blocking cues 6 blocking cues cont. Below, i explain how that method translate into oneonone blocks in the inside zone. In mechanigrama, lineman a4 was inside the freeblocking zone at the snap. The ultimate guide to inside zone blocking pro style. The inside and outside zone blocking scheme is easy to teach, its highly versatile, and it can create easy double teams on the line of scrimmage. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage.