Zoned In - Inside zone drills for covered and uncovered linemen

To get the most out of our O-linemen we use an effective drill called the Board Drill, which is  part of our every day drills. We buy into it and start each day on the boards to develop great departure angles, contact, and follow through.

The inside zone is the area blocking scheme where the covered lineman blocks on and the uncovered lineman blocks the playside gap often resulting in combinations. The O-linemen must read the near foot of the first DL. Movement is the key. The OL and RBs steps should mirror each other.

INSIDE ZONE (COVERED LINEMAN)

Departure Angle
 
•  First step is a zone step. The width and depth of this step is determined by the alignment of the defender. Get it in the ground quick.

•  Eyes are one inch outside the defender’s midline. Work the hat outside. Aim for your big toe on the defender’s pinky toe.

•  Second step is on the defender’s inside foot. Do not cross over.

Contact

•  The fit on the DL is critical. We will stress a near to near fit on the front side and a far to far fit on the backside.

•  Keep eyes on the aiming point and cover up the defender.

•  Treat this block like a one-on-one block.
Be physical.

•  It is extremely critical to get your hips on the defender to establish movement.

Follow Through

•  Get movement. You can’t lift anything if you don’t have leverage.
•  Do not come off the block unless the
D-Lineman pinches inside or the adjacent
offensive lineman physically bumps you off.

•  Run through linebackers at second level.

•  Using short choppy steps with a wide base is important.

INSIDE ZONE (UNCOVERED LINEMAN)

Departure Angle

•  First step is a zone step. Width and depth of this step are determined by the depth of the LB.

•  On the second step gain ground, but do not crossover.

•  Your eyes should be on the near knee of the first DL to the playside. If the knee goes away, snap up to second level. If the near knee comes to you, drive the DL on an angle until you and the adjacent OL get to LB depth or the LB gets to the OL depth.
 
Contact

•  We will use what is called “one hand read”.

•  If the LB hangs, we will use a one-hand read. One hand will be placed on the inside number of the playside defensive lineman to help the covered, adjacent offensive lineman. This will eventually turn into a double team up to the second level.
•  If the LB flows playside, use a two-handed read. Two hands will be placed on the defensive lineman to physically bump the covered, adjacent offensive lineman up to the second level to block the flowing LB. An “over” call will be used to alert the adjacent OL to come off  to the second level defender.

Follow Through

•  Remember, this is power zone blocking.
We want movement on the defensive lineman. Movement is key.

FRONT SIDE INSIDE ZONE BLOCKS
(See Diagram)

•  Combos - Zone double between C & G
•  Gumbos - Zone double between G & T
•  Tumbos - Zone double between T & TE
•  Gilligan - Solo zone block
•  Phillys - Versus a BS shade to help BSG.

BACK SIDE INSIDE ZONE BLOCKS

•  As - Scoop block between backside C & G
•  Bs - Scoop block between backside G & T
•  Cs - Scoop block between backside T & TE

DRILL FOR INSIDE ZONE

Name of Drill: Board Drill for OL (Inside Zone Blocking)
Position for Use of Drill: Zone blocking combinations with adjacent OL.

Equipment needed: Two hand shields and 6 inch by 6 foot boards. Trap chutes is an option.

Objective: The purpose of this drill is to develop the proper technique of the OL in an area blocking scheme where the covered lineman blocks on and the uncovered lineman blocks his playside gap often resulting in combinations. Movement at a 45-degree angle is key. 

Procedure
   
•  Start off by using the boards to develop good footwork. Place the board at a 45- degree angle.

•  Begin with the OL in a comfortable stance with his shoulders pointed straight ahead.

•  Start with multiple repetitions of a zone step by the OL to get him used to opening his hips at a 45-degree angle. A zone step is a departure angle that aims to get your big toe on the defender’s pinky toe to open shoulders at a 45-degree angle. Therefore, aim your big toe at the edge of the board to create the landmark of a Pinky Toe. After this step, the OL’s shoulders should be perpendicular to the slanted 45-degree angle board. A coaching point - start the drill by having the OL work his technique against the air, then transition to aligning a defender on the edge of the board with the defender holding a hand shield.
•  Now, the goal is to have the second step take place by giving the OL a whistle to bring the first and second step with multiple repetitions. The second step is key.  The second step must aim to step on the defender’s inside foot. The second step must be put down as quick as possible. The inside flipper should be delivered on this second step. The flipper serves as an aggressive “hitting surface”.

•  At this point, the OL’s fit is critical. The fit for inside zone on the front side is near to near. This means the OL aims to fit his inside shoulder under the defender’s inside shoulder to create a near to near fit. His hat should aim to be outside to sell the illusion that you are trying to reach the defender. The block now turns into a drive block at a 45-degree angle. The OL must keep his base through the board maintaining short and choppy steps. His hips should be rolling.

•  Once the flipper is delivered and the corresponding hand is put inside, the OL must transition to get hand leverage inside of the defender. Once at the end of the board, finish the defender with an aggressive shove. On the back side of inside zone, the goal is to fit the far shoulder to the defender’s far shoulder to establish a far to far fit. Once the footwork is mastered, remove the boards. 

•  Add the adjacent OL. Line them up side-by-side with the appropriate splits. Start off with the covered OL and the uncovered OL working a first level defender to a second level defender. They are not to come off of the first level defender until they get to the second level defender or the second level defender gets to their level. 
 
•  The covered OL will take his big toe and pinky toe zone step and treat this as a one-on-one block. Being that his adjacent OL is uncovered, there should be help up to the second level.

•  The uncovered OL will use a one handed read, with eyes on the first level defenders inside knee. If the near knee goes away, the OL snaps up at a 45-degree angle to the second level LB. If the near knee comes toward the uncovered OL, you are now a part of the double team; therefore, drive the first level defender hip-to-hip to the second level defender.

•  Stay on the double team until the LB gets to the OL’s depth or the OL gets to the LB’s depth. If the LB goes over the top, the covered OL will come off. If the LB goes underneath, the uncovered OL will come off. Once off the defender, keep driving the defender on a 45-degree angle. Keep your eyes open for a slanting defensive lineman and a looping LB. 

Coaching Points

•  The first step of the zone block is key. The width and depth of this step is determined by the alignment of the defender.

•  Eyes are one inch outside the defender’s midline.

•  The second step is to step on the defender’s inside foot. Do not cross over.

•  Treat this block as a one-on-one block. Be physical.

•  Work with adjacent OL and get movement on the DL. Work to second level up to the LB. Do not come off of block unless defensive lineman pinches inside.

Drill Variations

•  This same drill could be done in the trap chute to remind the OL to stay low.

•  Start every practice with this drill to perfect the footwork.

•  Remove boards to perfect zone pass offs up to a second level defender.

•  Another variation of the drill can be to line the defender on the far end of the board to do the identical drill to emphasize second level blocks.

About the Author: Chennis Berry recently completed his second season as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and offensive line coach at Southern University. He previously was the co-offensive coordinator at Howard University. With 20 years of college coaching experience, Berry has also coached at North Carolina A & T, Morgan State, Kentucky State, Ft. Valley State and Morris Brown College in Atlanta.

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Teaching the Inside and Outside Zone Using 3-Person Groups – June, 2014
Get Your Offensive Line in the Zone – December, 2013
Zone Blocking: Proper Stance and Footwork – March, 2013