The Power Zone Offense: An Overview – The keys to the success of the power zone offense are blocking both the nose guard and the middle linebacker.

The Power Zone Offense can be utilized with any offensive formation because of the blocking schemes that combine the power concept along with a zone concept. Our base formation is the Pro-I. This formation dictates how the defense will line up. We always face a nose guard and a middle linebacker, simplifying the blocking scheme

(See Diagram 1: base formation).

The power concept is due to the center base blocking the nose guard and the fullback blocking the linebacker, designated as the middle linebacker. The zone concept is applied to the other offensive linemen and the tight end who zone steps to the playside and run their tracks.

The fullback is our #2 back and will block the middle linebacker (power) through the playside gap (zone), as the center is “big on big” base blocking (power) the nose guard. The tailback, our #3 back, will step playside reading blocks, looking for cut back seams (Zone) to get downhill.

The key blocks, initially, are the one-on-one engagement block of the center on the nose and the fullback on the playside linebacker. This is the “Power” of the Power Zone Offense. The center will block (base, drive, cut, etc.) the defensive nose position, from a head up position to a 2i playside alignment. The fullback will block (base, drive, cut, etc.) the linebacker position from a 10 alignment (middle linebacker) through playside.

The offensive guards and tackles will zone step to the playside and run their track. Ideally, they will engage the defender with the playside or outside hand striking the defenders far armpit, while the inside hand strikes the defenders near armpit.

The playside defensive ends are scoop blocked. Backside ends are unblocked as the offensive tackle will scoop to the linebacker level. Receivers, including the tight end, will run off their defenders the majority of the time. All run adjustments are made with the center and fullback. The center blocks the first playside defender and the fullback blocks the first backside defender.

Our outside runs consist of the tailback reading and bouncing or backside pulls to kick or reach the playside end. Designed outside plays always apply the power concept to the center and fullback as well as the “puller”, while the other offensive linemen follow the zone concept rules by stepping opposite the play call.

Pass protection is basic blocking. 3-step pass drops have the offensive line stepping down with the running backs stepping out. The deep pass for a 5-7 step drop has the offensive line stepping to the outsider defender for big-on-big blocks, while the running backs fill inside.

We believe this offensive concept incorporates the best of all offenses, allowing for big and small linemen as well as “bruiser” and “scat” type running backs. This offense is typically designed for the running game to set up the intermediate passing game. This will significantly improve the play of your quarterback as well as offensive productivity.

In this overview, the play call is 30 Zone. Diagram 1 shows the base formation while diagrams 2-6 show the specific blocking assignments against five different defensive schemes – vs. the 4-3, 50 front, 30 front, 4-4, and the 60 front or goal line defense.

Diagam 2.

Diagram 3.

Diagram 4.

Diagram 5.

Digram 6.