Case 4: The Path/Reads of the Ball Carrier. Click here. "He wants to get started up field because he is going to come off on the next level. (Full Explanation), What is a Lateral Pass in Football? ]Q{V@RZj/vzm[ n1Ae(A%g( Outside zone has been a part of NFL run games for decades. The zone blocking scheme can be distilled down to two plays: the inside, or tight zone run, and the outside, or wide zone run. It's a terrific complement to the inside zone and the myriad of schemes that come off the zone concept can provide the defense with tremendous conflicts. x[[o6~GkPs(>t.MC&dI9$EHxn$CQ/."_F Terms and Rules Ace - Double . This creates man-blocking principles within the zone blocking system. In a clinic setting, Coach Greatwood teaches the inside zone concepts of the devastating Duck ground attack. The center does an excellent job of helping on his defensive tackle and then passing them off to the BSG. Since the offensive lineman assigned to that defender was asked to follow him based on the man blocking scheme, hed knock the offensive lineman next to him off course. The Running Back is still making the same read on the Tackle. The tackle to the read side will be blocking the end on his side, and stepping with the opposite foot as the rest of the OL. Teams that can effectively execute outside zone will have success. Thatd free up the Sam to make a big play. Another common way to utilize the Outside Zone blocking scheme is to get the ball to the running back out of the backfield. The numbering system and the filled/unfilled system. "If we don't get engagement by ripping to play side number, then we automatically climb to the second level," he said. The guard and tackle on each side of the center will combine for the zone blocking double teams. 6 0 obj Sweeney recalled a story during his ten year tenure as a center with the New York Jets when star running back Freeman McNeil used to come over and watch the linemen during their individual session in practice. In this case, the defensive end is shaded to the outside shoulder of the right offensive tackle. That movement will stop the penetration of the defender inside. Now let's zero in on the right side of the field to illustrate the example of which offensive lineman will peel off to block the Mike linebacker. Outside zone forces defenses to run horizontally and puts more responsibility on the running back to make the blocking scheme of the offensive line effective. The tackle would pick up the block, but it would knock the guard off course in the process. For clarification, the first blocker is the tight end, the second blocker is the fullback and the third blocker is the wide receiver play side. Teams who run outside zone from under center typically require the running back to make a quicker decision, as the ball will be in the hands of the running back closer to the line of scrimmage. Case 3: Back-side Blocking Schemes (To Cut or Not to Cut). endobj . endobj Install Guide. Even if offensive linemen lose ground, the back can run off of those blocks and create positive plays that exploit fast-filling linebackers. Before we talk specifics, we wanted to give you a general consensus of why teams are running the scheme. Outside Zone Running Back Aiming Point Last, the running back needs to read the block of the play-side tackle. And again, this is also not universal. In this drill, we work with a shaded down defender and a stacked Linebacker (or whatever we will see that week). Pat Ruel, the assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks, teaches a stretch hook concept (a combo horizontal stretch and hook) for his covered linemen to the play side of zone. Click here. The outside zone or also called the zone stretch is probably the most recognizable play in the zone blocking scheme. If that d-lineman comes straight ahead, his shoulders are square so he can force a cutback (which is detrimental to the outside zone scheme) or make the tackle. Used for OutsideZoneBlocking when uncovered. Remember above assume BOB. Here's what they told us: Top reasons for running the outside zone/stretch scheme: Complements the inside zone scheme: While the inside zone relies on vertical displacement of the defense, the outside zone relies on horizontal displacement. <>/XObject<>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 10 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> "We got it from Glen Mason while he was at the University of Minnesota. #12nzsMfBhJ@x~G$4BhOACeQ6Z98E y 'ILj*k>W\R Its best used as a base play for your offense if youre running three wide receivers and a tight end or two wing-backs. You can see in this example, from a standard shotgun set, the QB uses the backside defensive ends alignment against him, and simply 'reads' what he is doing, it provides a very simple rule for . But against stunting first level defenders, keeping both shoulders squared becomes a difficult fundamental to accomplish. 7 0 obj In fact, 64.9 percent of coaches believe that the uncovered vs. covered methodology is the most productive way of blocking the inside zone scheme. Zone-locking or man-locking principles may also be applied to pass blocking. Iowa's outside zone is modeled after the Alex Gibbs/Terrell Davis philosophy of getting the defense to run on the front side just to cut on the backside. Teams who use outside zone as a primarily outside zone run play may have their running back trying to get to the edge no matter what. The Promotion & Instruction of Youth Football, Home / Uncategorized / Maximizing the Outside Zone Blocking Scheme. Rules to live by with Zone Blocking Know if you are covered or uncovered. In this case, the Center = 0, RG = 1 and RT = 2. When the ball is snapped the Quarterback will take the snap and step directly back as the Running Back come across his face. Once the running back reads the tackle, he will bend it back toward the middle if he sees him pushing the defensive end to the sideline. If players are stacked, the lower number goes to the defender closer to the line of scrimmage. What's most effective about teaching this methodology is that the front that the defense presents is irrelevant. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-4)","hsl":{"h":206,"s":0.2727,"l":0.01,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"val":"rgb(57, 163, 209)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.62,"l":0.52,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"f3080":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"f3080"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"f3080"},"poiuy":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"f83d7":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"f3080"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)"},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, Instantly improve your current positional group, Exclusive access to our staff to help answer your questions, Grow your football knowledge & outsmart your friends and colleagues, Complete breakdown of rules, offensive and defensive concepts, Best course for beginners to learn football, Intro courses that provide you the skillset to talk football like a pro, Engage with your spouse during and after the game. This eBook takes my blocking chapters from my Power Wing Beast Offense and Wildcat Multi Spread Offense playbooks and combines them into a basic blocking book for any youth football offense. This will close any holes between the linemen and prevent defenders from busting through them. Where the defensive end goes -- and how the offensive linemen double team him -- will determine which offensive lineman blocks the Mike. <> That caused offensive coaches to try to come up with a new blocking scheme thatd counter the slant and angle scheme and also protect against future defensive schemes that coaches might create. This is still a zone scheme, and OL will have to take their zone steps and pick up anyone who enters their gap because after all, the defense are humans and they will react differently after the snap. They called it the 28/29 Edge play. BLOCKING RULES RULE: Base - Big on Big rule CALL: "big" Block inside, over, outside to near backer. With the wide zone run scheme, offensive linemen work laterally as they try to gain the edge. South Carolinas own twist on the double swing screen Y delay. The backside tackle and tight end fight to cut off their defenders and prevent them from shooting gaps. *@,$Oe* R:MnRO_ *?r&*o}OQ!*M$}M Reps. Reps. Reps. Reps. Reps. That's all my guys did in practice. Seal - Term used for blocking defender out to stop penetration of gap or to ensure edge pressure . Here's what the Inside Zone Read looks like Live. The tackle would miss the block, forcing the guard to pick up the defensive end or allowing the end to quickly get in the backfield. The count system works the same for any front whether youre running inside zone or outside zone. The RB will key the block on the first D-lineman playside on inside zone, and make a cut based off the block on him. While its a little more complicated to teach and learn than the man blocking scheme, it isn't too difficult that itd be hard for younger players to learn. Last, the play-side tackle has one of the most important blocks in the entire play. Theres a lot of moving parts and there are a lot of areas that need to be practice in a short amount of time. Unlike a full zone principle, this scheme involves down blocks and pulls at the point of attack. We do this by keeping both feet on ground." Offensive linemen must still take outside tracks (which will be covered below) and work through any first level defenders to get to their number. Can't see the diagram? Their objective is to reach and overtake the next down lineman play side. How he blocks him can vary - some coaches prefer lead or angle step up field, whereas some tell their offensive lineman to bucket step. The blocking has been simplified through the use of two blocking schemes-- inside zone and outside zone-- for a variety of different plays. The idea is to "stretch" the entire defense the width of the field. Lean back if nothing is there - If there's nothing that shows immediately, lean back and get eyes on what's coming into your gap. Before we talk specifics, we wanted to give you a general consensus of why teams are running the scheme. Yes, he did just say front side A gap. Now, this aspect of the scheme won't be covered in this report, but please know we are currently working on a report that outlines this package in great detail. Aiming points and angles are some of the most important rules for the OL We will cut the one technique back-side with the back-side guard or if he has a three technique, we'll cut it with the tackle. He even tells his back-side tackle on zone to execute a "swoop technique" (Diagram 4) with the intentions of getting all the way to the play side of the zone. He teaches his players to eye the outside armpit of the defender with the objective to always advance to the second level. In this instance the Running Back will line up next to the Quarterback opposite of the play call. 2. GOD - Gap on Down; GOLD - Gap on LB Down; GOO - Gap on Outside (pass) OL = Outside Zone blocking. @l7)j$v tPO8? Copyright 2023 vIQtory Sports, all rights reserved. Ruel stresses the idea of keeping his lineman's shoulders square and getting the stomach up field to guarantee the defender gets hooked. Coach Ferentz calls it a "force the hole" play and that hole is usually the C gap. The Outside Zone Drill is going to be used after your Individual Period. "We tell him to take a deep drop step and come out on the strong side A gap. Click here. That can then open huge cutback lanes in the middle of the field for running backs to take advantage of. The only way an offensive Teams now use the outside zone as a counter to this pressure by getting the ball to the edge. If the center can't get the nose reached, he asks for help. Outside zone is a play that aims to attack the edge of the defense but utilizes backside cutoffs. In this example, the count would begin with the 3t = 0, the Mike = 1 and the DE = 2. Although this topic was not in our original survey, we did do our research to find the most common aiming points of the ball carrier. Maximizing the Outside Zone Blocking Scheme. It also is using 5G, IoT and Wi-Fi technologies to provide a wireless IoT network system for smart hospital wards. It can also efficiently be run with one back, which would still give you the advantage of the leverage on the defense based on what you put into their gaps on either side. Our landmark for our back is three yards outside the tight end and one yard deep," he says. Instead, Sweeney spends more time alerting his lineman pre-snap about the possibilities of a stunt or scrape. Many Running Backs can find this to be a more difficult read because they are moving directly sideways which makes it difficult for them to cut and get upfield. There are two general approaches to how outside zone is taught. "I don't like the theory of keeping the outside arm free - you need four hands on defender," says Sweeney. Zweifel will do this when he sees a C gap down defender to the play side. Play-action package off OZ action: Now, this is where the fun begins. Coach starts off with a powerpoint lecture and then proceeds to his two main drills on tape and then advances to game film. The easiest example to see how this works is to talk about the defensive end. For outside zone, he will often read the second playside D-lineman and do the same. endobj The zone read uses the standard inside zone blocking rules as identified in previous articles, but also utilises the quarterback as a running threat. The center is 0, the play-side guard is 1, play-side tackle is 2, backside guard is -1, and the backside tackle is -2. One advantage of running this play from Under Center is the Play Action potential it opens up. For years, offensive linemen were given man blocking responsibilities. Inside Zone Run to the right (14) or left (15) w/ a lead blocker. The earlier you teach the zone blocking scheme to your players, and the more often you practice it, the easier itll be for them to master it. We're here just to spark the debate and give you some fodder to decide how best to run your scheme. On the backside the shaded Nose = -1, the Will = -2 and the backside DE = -3. The best part about the Outside Zone scheme is that it can be used in a multitude of different ways to attack the defense. Outside zone is one of the hardest plays for the defense to stop, simply because it takes the element of power completely out of the situation. But when we conducted our research, we've found that the majority of coaches we polled (37.8 %) do not teach the cut block back-side. The slant and angle defense exposed one fatal flaw in the man blocking scheme -- that offensive linemen were asked to follow their assigned defender wherever they went. The login page will open in a new tab. As soon as they seal, he shifts his eyes one gap inside. Can't see the diagram? Behind the Inside Zone it is the second most popular scheme at the professional and college level. We are trying to put both hands on the far shoulder pad. Zone Read Scheme Rules, Techniques and Drills. This concept was made famous by the Denver Broncos and their legendary offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. The past season I coached our 8th grade team and we went 10-0 and won our league championship. 17 Bellstone Drive, Bellingham, MA, 02019. Running backs also have to be able to key and see that pre-snap to adjust their track accordingly. Team Tempo - Inside Zone blocking. Basic Zone Blocking Rules: Inside Gap (first rule is to protect inside gap) Head UP (head up is considered from inside shoulder to outside shoulder) Climb to LB. This is a simple way to zone block, without having to extensively teach zone blocking principles like covered-uncovered. Coaching youth football isnt easy. Its great for QBs, RBs, WRs, LBs, and DBs. 4 hands on DLM, 4 eyes on LB. Here is one last example of how the flow and horizontal pressure of outside zone can exploit defenses. Again, the purpose of the outside zone is to show a horizontal stretch on the defense. The cornerstone of blocking rules starts with blocking seven for seven across the front in 12 personnel . If the defensive end goes to the inside (through the B gap), then the offensive guard will stay on him while the offensive tackle peels off to pick up the Mike. endobj The double team on outside zone will be short lived and evolved into a co-op block between the PS Tackle and PS TE. At the snap, they'd all either slant to the left or the right, depending on what defensive play was called, heading to the gap between two offensive linemen. A primary goal of almost all offenses is to get the ball to a speedy player in space. The Outside Zone begins with a lateral step to the playside; this is essentially a side step. But then, a hole in the man blocking system was exposed by smart defensive coaches. 4 0 obj First, the linemen who are double team blocking in tandem must stay hip-to-hip. The running back has three primary rules: bend, bang, and bounce. The last thing we wanted to address were the various "pin and pull" techniques that some coaches are using to get to the perimeter. The backside guard takes his track to overtake for the center while putting his hand on the near hip of the player in his backside gap. These are the primary rules for outside zone. Outside zone (lateral hook/seal): Reach/block the outside shoulder/first step points outside of D-lineman's outside shoulder. If the Tackle is able to seal his man then the Running Back is free to get the ball to the alley and attack downhill. Outside zone is run strictly off of leverage and cutoff blocks. I'll focus on the wide zone, because that's more iconic to what Gibbs . Perhaps no other coach knows the zone scheme better than Stan Zweifel. It provides a lot of advantages for offensive linemen, no matter what defensive play is called. As Jim Sweeney, a 16-year NFL center tells his lineman at South Fayette HS (PA), "We always try to stay parallel with our shoulders because we want the back to have a three way go. Cutting off offensive linemen requires no size or strength. For a more detailed breakdown of the concept, watch the video below of how the count system works and the technique involved in the scheme. Currently 5/5 Stars. Spread Offensive Run Plays Complete Guide, How To Run Counter In Football Complete Guide, Running The Power Play In Football Complete Guide, The Gap Scheme & How Its Run In Every Offense, What Is Power Read In Football? Great against interior pressure: If you're successful with your interior run game like the inside zone and power, chances are you'll see the probability of interior pressure increase. You should receive a confirmation email shortly asking you to verify your subscription. {}jY[5t?hY;6o~_ In fact, its the exact same as far as who the offensive linemen are blocking. Blocking Outside Zone Using the Count System The play is designed to go to the right. Communicate with each other. Although these covered and uncovered concepts are the same ones we spoke of on the inside zone report, we wanted to provide a quick refresher. Any team running a pound-it between the tackles power offense should consider implementing outside zone. Please log in again. When a play side lineman is covered on the outside zone or stretch play, it is his job to handle that down lineman. Once his gap is secured, he will continue working up to the linebacker to cut off his angle. On running plays, this is especially important. 1. Hand tells us the specifics of his ball carrier's path in outside zone from the shotgun formation. Herb Hand, Vanderbilt University (Bounce, Bang, Bend). by Anonymous. There are two primary rules: covered and uncovered. If you have an offensive lineman that can move and effectively cut off the defensive players, outside zone is a perfect install. There are certain indicators that would "tip off" some form of angle or stunt to the play side of zone. The two plays are based on the teaching that in any inside or outside zone play, there are "covered" and "uncovered" linemen. Later you might consider 8-9 hole QB options. For years, offensive linemen were given man blocking responsibilities. Versus a dominant nose or 2i technique (Diagram 11). The linemen still count their defenders to the play side when determining their responsibilities. The second player is a -2, and so on. The next step in the zone blocking scheme deals directly with how to block these two linebackers -- the Will and the Mike, in our example. It is used when lineman struggle with reaching the down defender in front of them, so help is needed by the next adjacent lineman. ,h_;9%Z*`0~`Wgaiwr>Qbsvo]9-o!N"e"wZQ'"-Hb.ZG: nwj?mCA7cQOc7Le:RDZD->Zu!+DGnz@NSSFWbk;Tlp`:@11ZcK :YZgGviGf]XkB`MvpN&:7 Last, if the tackle successfully cuts off the defensive end, the running back will bounce the ball to the outside, hoping to outrun the rest of the defensive backs. Per Gibbs, outside zone is blocked the same as inside zone outside of two big differences. If the center can reach the nose he will make a "you" call to the strong guard telling the strong guard to pull and block the play side linebacker. We can't get a soft shoulder." The TB chases the butt of the tight end on this. With the track of the running back, Jacksonville has forced the secondary of the Browns to flow hard over the top and get sealed off to the play-side. Once the lineman is engaged with a defender, he needs to stay engaged until he feels the next adjacent lineman take his assignment over. Track blocking basically means putting the linemen on a track, and they engage only what shows up on their track. On inside zone there will be double teams where as outside zone there will be no double teams except on the edge between the PS Tackle and the PS TE. Also, similarly to Inside Zone, it has multiple possible points of entry. We've found that the difference lies more in philosophy than it does in technique. Truth is, 80.8 percent of those that took our outside zone survey were high school coaches. This was very similar to a man-to-man defense. "But we do concern ourselves with a player who lines up in a gap position. (New) Youth Football Online Playbook Poster, Shotgun Wing T Playbook Paperback Edition, Recap of our 2022 Football Season | 10-0 League Super Bowl Champions, Biggest Mistakes Youth Football Coaches Make | How to Avoid Them, Youth Football Online All-Star Selection- QB / FS Gunner Radon. If the Tackle is unable to seal his man the Running Back must plant with his playside foot and cut vertically upfield. Enter the Name/Description. the difference between an inside and outside zone, and how . This helps eliminate some concerns especially if you are pulling a fast player over from defense to run the play. Thats where the overtake comes into play. If you would like to discuss this topic further with Mike Kuchar, Senior Research Manager, X&O Labs, please feel free to email him at mikek@xandolabs.com. Teams who run outside zone must have athletic linemen that can cut in front of the defensive lineman. He uses the drag hand to catch and hold the defender so he cannot penetrate.". At the snap, the center is responsible for blocking the nose tackle lined up head-up on him. The Hawkeyes have averaged over 160 yards per game on the ground each of the last four seasons. While I dont really believe this is completely true, I am a full believer in the power of the placebo effect. In Grabowski's scheme, the fullback or H block gets assigned for force. We're talking full displacement of defenders. He can then read the block of his Playside Tackle to determine if he will press the ball outside or make a single cut back to the Inside.