Marian Catholic High School

“Zone Blocking”Catholic Grade School Conference

Friday, March 12, 2004

Marian CatholicHigh School

www.marianchs.com• Athletics• Men’s Athletic• Football• Clinic Notes

“Develop A Personality”

• Evaluate your offensive philosophy;• Evaluate your potential athletes;• “More” is not always better;• “Copy” is not always better;• Establish offensive philosophy throughout

the multiple levels of the program;• Be a teacher;• Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.

Developing A Plan

Successful programs learn to be adaptable.

• Conservative offense – minimum sets – quality repetitions;

• Varied Offense – multiple sets – minimum repetitions;

• Ability to run the football;

• Adaptability to throw the football if scrimmage line becomes crowded.

Developing A Plan

• What changes occur on the defensive side of the football when we change our formations?

• Grade School – Eight man fronts

• High School – Seven man fronts

• Collegiate/Pro – Six Man fronts

• Do we create a disadvantage by being multiple?

Blocking Designs

Old School – Defined Holes – Defined Path

Zone Blocking – “Step In The Bucket” – “Step Stretch” – “Stretch Double” – Aiming Point – Run To Daylight

Hybrid – Combination Defined and Zone

Defensive Techniques

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Zone Principles

Jim McInally – Cincinnati Bengals

Anthony Munoz

In a good zone scheme• Effective offensive linemen always stay on their

feet;• Effective offensive linemen always maintain

contact;• Effective offensive linemen work well in tandem

Inside Zone Principles• Inside Zone Blocking is designed to use the

movement of the defenders against them as the running back finds the crease in the defense (Run To Daylight);

• Inside Zone Blocking rules are keyed by whether a lineman is covered or uncovered;

• Covered lineman will execute a “Stretch Base” technique;

• Covered lineman will take a short “Stretch Step” to the play side and attempt to control the play side shoulder of the defensive lineman;

Inside Zone Principles• The purpose of the “Stretch Step” is to invite

movement by the defensive lineman, and then immediately engage him;

• Uncovered lineman execute a “Stretch Double” technique as they step to the play side;

• The uncovered lineman then attacks the backside shoulder of the same defensive lineman, creating double teams on most defensive lineman;

• The uncovered lineman assists the covered lineman to the play side;

Inside Zone Principles• “Four hands – Four eyes”• Four hands on the defensive lineman and four

eyes on the linebacker in their area.• Once the linebacker commits to the Line of

Scrimmage, one of the lineman “chips” off the double team and blocks him;

• The other lineman must be prepared and in position to block the defensive lineman;

• Goal – “cutback” running lane for running back;

Outside Zone Principles• Goal of outside zone blocking is to get the

defense moving laterally across the field and to create seams in their coverage;

• Covered lineman executes a “rip-reach” technique, taking an angle step at the play side shoulder of the defensive lineman and rips through with his backside arm;

• Job of the covered lineman is to turn the defensive lineman’s shoulders and get him off-balance and prepared for the combination blocker.

Outside Zone Principles• The uncovered lineman executes a “pull and

overtake” technique, executing a shallow pull step toward play side and works to take over the block of his partner;

• Goal is for the covered lineman to rip through and get to the linebacker with the uncovered lineman attempting to overtake the covered lineman’s original block.

Combination Block Concept

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• Play develops to the right;• OG Must step to the right as if

drive block and engage 3 technique;

• Center must step hard to right and work to gain leverage on 3 technique;

• If “Mike” linebacker scrapes over the top, OG will proceed to next level for “Mike” linebacker with the center responsible to block the “3” technique.

Zone Schemes

Zone Blocking Schemes place the emphasis on the running back making the appropriate cut to “daylight” wherever that may occur. There is a defined aiming point with the blocking development dependent on the combination concept to determine the actual path of the ball carrier.

Hybrid Schemes

Hybrid Blocking Schemes place the emphasis to a defined aiming point with the running back to aim for a blocking development at the point of attack.

Fit Position

The physical engaging of a defensive player by an offensive blocker. The “fit” is determined as the contact point of a blocking attempt within the “frame” and will form the third leg of the tripod effect.

Blocking Technique• Base – Tripod;

• Feet Shoulder Width Apart;

• Right Toe – Left Instep;

• Knees slightly bent;

• Hips set;

• Back arch;

• Right hand – right of center

Blocking Technique• Balance and transfer of weight;• Balls of feet;• Adjust right foot to accommodate balance;• Weight on hand – no discolor;• Ability to step with either foot;• Step positive / “Step Into The Bucket”• Recognition of defensive set;• Snap Count

Blocking Technique• “Stretch Step”

• Vision

• Explosion

• Collision

Blocking Terminology

• Drive Block

• Reach Block (Zone)

• “Ace”

• “Deuce”

• “Trey”

Drive BlockDRIVE BLOCK (Sam)

One-on-one blocking situation with defensive player head up on offensive blocker. Right foot or left foot lead will be determined by play call and direction of the designated hole.

Reach BlockREACH BLOCK

One - on - one blocking situation with defensive player on the shoulder of the offensive blocker and in the direction of the play call. Offensive blocker must step “positive” (45 degrees) in the direction of the play call. Offensive blocker must work for a “fit” - initiate contact - begin working up the field for leverage - gradual turning of the defensive player away from the direction of the play.

Combination ConceptCOMBINATION BLOCKTwo offensive blockers being responsible for two defensive players who are on two levels. Blocking sequence will include the drive and/or reach blocks with a subsequent move to a second level. Two offensive blockers will engage a “first” level defensive player with the idea that the inside blocker will eventually be responsible for the first level defensive player. The outside offensive blocker will help the inside blocker establish a “fit” and will then work to the defensive player on level two. Outside offensive blocker should not leave level one defensive player until inside offensive player has established proper fit. This call will work from the outside to the inside.

“Ace”

“ACE” - combination block between center and guard (blocking away from the designated gap)

“Deuce”

“DEUCE” - combination block between guard and tackle (blocking away from the designated gap)

“Trey”

“TREY” - combination block between tackle and tight end (blocking away from the designated gap)

LevelsThere are three levels to the blocking sequence.

• The first level is restricted to the down defensive linemen of the defensive set.

• The second level is restricted to the line backing level of the defensive set.

• The third level is restricted to the entire secondary level of the defensive set.

Hawk Concept – Zone

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Hawk Concept

Sky Hawk Concept – Zone

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6-2 Concept

Split Hawk Concept – Zone

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Split Hawk Concept

Pro Right I – TB Smash Rt-Deuce

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Pro Right I – TB Smash Rt-Zone

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