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Zone Blocking, Part I – Philosophy and Conceptsby: Ken WilmesherrOffensive Line Coach, Grossmont College © More from this issue It is important for offensive linemen to learn to block through a detailed progression so they understand the overall concepts of the position. The zone blocking concept is an important element of Grossmont College’s running attack. In part I of this three-part series on our zone game, we will introduce our offensive line philosophy and the basics of the zone offense, emphasizing coaching points for offensive linemen. There are eight things we look for in an offensive lineman: Offensive linemen need to be fundamentally tough and fundamentally sound in both the run and pass game. To be effective and fundamentally sound, offensive linemen require patience and many hours of hard work on and off the field. Offensive linemen need to understand that run and pass blocking are unnatural tasks and can be developed to a greater degree than any other phase of the game. Successful offensive line play depends on the the mastery of the techniques required in the run and pass game. The more techniques an offensive lineman can master in the run and pass game, the easier it will be for him to cope with various situations. An offensive lineman’s success can only be brought about with tremendous work ethic and confidence in his ability in both the run and pass game. Concentration, self discipline, communication, and the willingness to pay the price are part of being a respected offensive lineman. What it takes to be an effective offensive lineman: Diagram 1. Split Inside and outside zone is not a man blocking scheme, but rather an area or zone blocking scheme. The zone play can break anywhere, so it is imperative that all linemen know that both playside and backside blocking assignments are crucial. Furthermore, the zone concept dictates to the defense and can account for defensive actions after the snap. Because of this, it is sound vs. blitzes, stunts, slants, etc. Zone blocking features co-ops, which consist of two or more adjacent linemen working together blocking defenders either on or off the ball in specific playside or backside gaps. On inside zone, there will be double teams, while on outside zone there won’t be double teams except on the edge between the playside tackle and tight end. However, the double team on outside zone will be short lived and evolve into a co-op block between the tackle and tight end. On an inside zone blocking scheme, all offensive linemen are working vertically through their playside gap. Inside zone blocking is designed to get vertical movement on the line of scrimmage by creating double teams on down defenders while getting vertical movement to the second level defender. The vertical movement created by the offensive linemen and the double teams (co-ops) at the first level allows the running back to press the hole and find the crease allowing for a cut back. Outside zone blocking is designed to stretch the defense by getting the defenders to move laterally. By stretching the defense, there is more horizontal push by the offensive linemen. Thus, offensive linemen are attempting to gain horizontal leverage on the defenders. Because of the horizontal push and the aiming point of the running back, defenders will move laterally across the field, creating seams for the running back. As the back stretches the defense and the offensive linemen push defenders laterally, the running back will puncture the defense as he finds the seam. Diagram 2. The running back is reading the first down defender from the center out. The back will press the hole and cut back. On outside zone, the quarterback steps at either 8 (left zone) or 4 o’clock (right zone). The running back is reading the hip of the edge blocker, either the callside tight end or the callside tackle. The running back is on an angle to the edge blocker (Diagram 3). Diagram 3. If the edge blocker controls the defender, the back will bounce the edge to the sideline. If the edge defender is not controlled, the back will work upfield and cut under the defender. A zone team will have deeper vertical splits because there are two-man or three-man (co-op blocks) schemes in which offensive linemen are reading and reacting to the defender while working to a certain target area. Vertical splits are loose; the down hand is on the instep of the center. This allows for two steps in the ground before contact. We maintain a minimum of 18 inches to a maximum of 24-inch horizontal splits. However, depending on defensive structures and defensive personnel, splits may vary on the play side and the back side (Diagram 4). Diagram 4. Uncovered and Covered Being covered playside is defined as having a defender aligned in the playside shade or gap on the LOS (Diagram 5). Diagram 5. Being covered backside is defined as having no defender in the playside shade or gap, but having a defender head up or in the backside gap on the LOS (Diagram 6). Diagram 6. Being uncovered is defined as having no defender either backside, head up, or to the call side shade or gap on the LOS, but is covered at depth by a second-level defender (Diagram 7). Diagram 7. Uncovered linemen will zone with the adjacent lineman to the call side. Covered linemen will zone with the back side (away from the call side) lineman. If both backside linemen are covered then they must man block (Diagram 8). Diagram 8. Defining Zones Each lineman is responsible for a zone or area. For example, the backside tackle’s zone is from his nose to the backside guard’s playside shoulder. The backside guard’s zone is from his nose to the center’s play side shoulder, the center’s zone is from his nose to the right guard’s playside shoulder and so on. However, the playside tight end’s zone is from his nose to the sideline (Diagram 9). Diagram 9.
The landmark for covered and uncovered linemen is outside the bodyline (playside hip, knee, and armpit) of the first or second level defender. Offensive linemen want to rip the far landmark. On the inside zone, an uncovered lineman is reading the near hip and chasing the far hip of the down defender. If the down defender’s hip disappears (color goes away), the uncovered lineman works to the second-level defender. If the near hip comes to him, he takes over the block (Diagram 10). Diagram 10. The landmark for outside zone is the outside the bodyline (playside) hip of the defender. On the back side of zone we can also use cut and scramble blocks. The scramble block is performed mostly by a backside lineman to stop penetration and pursuit by a defender. It is important for a lineman to not chase a scrapping linebacker because he is usually replaced by a slanting lineman. The uncovered lineman will one-arm bench the down defender’s near breast plate with the playside arm and keep the backside arm free. The uncovered lineman will “piggyback” the covered lineman to be in position to handle slants, stunts, and blitzes. |
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