Attacking the 3-3 defense with the Inside and Outside Zone

by: Michael Chavez
Offensive Line Coach, Southeast Missiouri State University
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On behalf of our staff at Southeast Missouri State University I’d like to say that it’s an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to share some of our thoughts and ideas on attacking the 3-3 Defense with the Inside and Outside Zone.

The problem the 3-3 presents is that it is an odd front with a 4-3 linebacker set. It neither fits your odd front rules or your 4-3 rules and if you try to full zone it – more times than not – you come up empty-handed. It is because of this mix that we sat down as a staff and decided that if we were going to be a successful zone team against the 3-3 we would have to come up with a new set of rules that would allow us to cut off the defensive flow and still allow our running backs to be able to keep their zone reads.

Through staff discussions and much film review it is our conclusion that in order to successfully attack the 3-3 you must be able to control the middle stack (nose guard and “Mike” linebacker). With that in mind, our schemes are designed to force the flow players to be fillers (Inside Zone) and to cut the flow players off by cutting the defense in half; making the force players hold or play flow (Outside Zone).

Inside Zone

In our system we have three simple calls that determine our blocking scheme: Bob, Mike and Home.

Bob (Diagram 1)

Diagram 1. Bob

This call directs the FB to attack the playside linebacker. The TE and playside tackle will double-team the DE to the nickel backer. Playside guard and center will double team to the backside stack (nose guard and “Will” linebacker). The backside guard will “wrap” around the double team to the “Mike” linebacker. The backside tackle will “reach and revert” to control the backside end. The RB will take a lateral step and read the “Mike” linebacker for his cut.

Coaching Points: On all double teams, players will “gap” step to their corresponding linebacker, continuing on their path should the defensive lineman slant away from them (A “gap” step being a short, flat, six-inch step to their inside gap if the DE is head up on OT; if DE is in “B” gap then OT and TE will gap-step together.). If the defensive linemen hold, then we will stay on our double teams, using our “Flipper” technique, until the linebacker makes a commitment (“Flipper” technique is when both linemen on the double team rip up with their forearms creating force and a greater surface area to block with. Off arms will continue to pump in order to keep their shoulders and hips square.).

Mike (Diagram 2)

Diagram 2. Mike

Here the FB will be isolated on the “Mike” linebacker forcing him to become a fill player. The playside tackle and TE will block the DE to nickel backer with the playside guard gap-stepping out and working up to the “Sam” linebacker. The backside guard will step to the center and “bump” the nose guard enough for the center to get playside heavy at which time he will release to the backside stack. As before, the backside tackle will “reach and revert.” The RB will take the same lateral step as before reading the block on the “Mike” linebacker.

Coaching Points: The bump technique used by the backside guard serves three purposes:

1. It prevents a quick swim backdoor on the center.
2. If the NG “sinks” on double teams, it will cause him to sink away from the hole.
3. Helps to give the “Mike” linebacker a false key if he starts to step up on double teams.

Home (Diagram 3)

Diagram 3.

As an adjustment to our “Bob” and “Mike” calls, we will make a “Home” call when we see that the linebackers are keying heavy on our FB. This gives us a split flow look with the FB now stepping and releasing up to the “Will” linebacker. The playside guard, tackle, and TE will block as they do on a “Mike” call. The backside guard and center will now work a “true” double team up to the “Mike” linebacker.

Coaching Points: The double team between the backside guard and center is a true “Flipper” technique double team. Both men will stay on the NG, pushing up field, until the “Mike” linebacker commits.

Outside Zone

As I mentioned earlier, on our outside zone we want to cut the defense in half and stop flow by controlling the “Mike” linebacker. Once again we do this by making two simple calls: “Alley” and “Mike.”

Alley (Diagram 4)

Diagram 4. Alley

This call tells the FB he is leading into the alley looking to block the nickel backer. The playside tackle and TE will double the DE looking to come off on the first thing inside (usually the “Mike” linebacker, but can also be the “Sam” linebacker if he walks up into the “B” gap). The playside guard will pull around the double team for the “Sam” linebacker. The center will be manned up with the backside guard pulling to get up field as soon as he can look for the safety. The backside tackle will step flat with square shoulders and take the first thing to cross his face, DE or backside linebacker. The RB will take a lateral crossover step reading the DE. He pushes out, the RB is underneath. He stays pinned, the RB will be outside.

Coaching Points: When our guards pull they take what our kids call a “Read” step. What this means is that we will take our first step with our off foot, stepping back and at a 45-degree angle and settling under our butts. The second step will continue on the same angle getting our read on the DE at the same time. We use this step for two reasons:

1) It allows us to read the DE.
2) It helps us keep our shoulders square on our pull and when we turn up field.

This is key for us in that we want our shoulders square to the L.O.S. at the same time the RB is getting the ball.

The center will take a hard 45-degree angle step up field, working a “Half Man” technique. If the nose guard scrapes, the center will stay square to the L.O.S. while working the angle. If the NG tries to come through the backdoor, the center will then pivot off his first step back into the direction of the slant.

Mike (Diagram 5)

Diagram 5. Mike

As with our inside zone, this call will put our FB up on the “Mike” linebacker. This is an especially good call for us if we have been successful running the inside zone.

Our TE will base up on the DE, staying square or keeping his toes on the defensive end’s toes. The playside guard and tackle will pull around the tight end’s block with the tackle looking to block the nickel backer and the guard looking for the “Sam” linebacker. From the center backside everything remains the same as in our “Alley” call.

Coaching Points: The key block in this scheme is with the TE singled up on the DE. Depending on the alignment of the DE, our TE will take a short gap step inside (vs. 7) or use a reverse shoulder block (vs. gap). If the DE is head up all we ask our TE to do is try to step on the toes of the DE. We want him to keep his shoulders square in what we call a “Push and Pester” technique. Keeping his shoulders square not only forces the DE to start looking for the ball but it also forces the “Sam” linebacker to hold long enough for the playside guard to get on him.

Obviously the defense can make adjustments to your adjustments and so on and so forth. Possibly jumping into a 3-4 or a 4-3 in which case you have forced them into a front that is more conducive to your zone rules. There are probably other ways to “skin this cat.” However, this is our solution to the 3-3 problem, a solution which allows us to run the two staple running plays of our running attack, the Inside and Outside Zone.

About the author Mike Chavez Mike Chavez joined the Southeast Missouri staff in 2000 as the offensive line coach. Prior to that, Chavez spent four years at Black Hills State University as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator. He graduated from Whittier College in 1981 with a degree in social science. You can reach Coach Chavez at mchavez@semo.edu.	If you liked this article, here are three others just like it: 1. Dominate the Perimeter, July 2002 2. Smash, Oct. 2001 3. Dashing the Defense, Dec. 2000
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