Zone Blocking

The Zone blocking scheme is one where you block a zone/area and not a specific man. The defense can stunt
and you will still only block whoever comes into your area. We are

Individual Steps
Bucket Step

Is a short, quick step that allows lineman to “lose ground to gain ground”. The basic step is a six to eight inch
step that starts with a 45 degree angle. This angle puts the shoulders on a path to block the defender. The
linemen’s instep rests on the ground. The step has depth and width.

Up Step

Is a short, quick step straight up the field into the defender. This step is used primarily on double team blocks.
The basic step is a six to eight inch step that allows the OL to get into “half” of the defender quickly.
 Zone Step

A short, quick over and up step that allows the OL to gain ground on the 1st step. This step is a combination of
the Zone and Up steps and is the foundation for all Zone blocking. The basic step is a six to eight inch step on
the instep straight ahead. This step allows the lineman to establish contact with the DL more quickly.

Note: Go to http://www.expertvillage.com/video/9574_coach-offensive-line-bucket-zone.htm to see how the

Bucket and Zone steps are used together to block the DL.

2 2
2 2
2

1
1
1 1

Pivot Step

Is a turn of the foot with the weight on the heel of the foot. This step is used to point the toe in the direction of
the block.
Crossover Step

Is a longer sideways step. The OL moves over the adjacent lineman and into the defender. If moving right the
left foot crosses the right foot as the right pivots. This step allows the two adjacent lineman to exchange
blocking responsibilities.

Slide Step

Is a short (four to six inch) quick step that moves laterally. The sideways step allows the OL to gain
inside/outside position on the defender very quickly.

Punch

You as an offensive lineman must know where your hands go on every block. Contact with the hands usually
happens during the 2nd step. The OL must try to gain inside hand position on the defender to win the block.
Inside hand position allows the OL to have more control over the defender.

Types of punches ;

Full Bench

Both hands whip into the defender in an attempt to get maximum control. The hands come up with the thumbs
and the palms of the hands on the numbers and the elbows are in close to your body.

Half Bench
The OL places one hand on the DL. This type of punch is used when the OL knows he will be getting help from
another OL. OL use the half bench punch in double team situations where the OL works from a down defender
to a linebacker. The thumb is to the inside pointing at the OL with the rest of fingers pointing up.

Flipper

The OL wads his hands and fists and throws his forearm into the chest of the defender. The forearm should hit
the defend flush across the numbers with the elbow hitting between the numbers. Both individual and double-
team blocks may engage using the flipper. OL use the flipper in an individual block when attempting to het
movement on the DL. As soon as the DL reacts to the block the Ol may go to a Full Bench or Rip. He may also
leave the defender and move to another defender. Double-team blocks use the flipper to move DL off the LOS
and into a specific Linebacker.

Rip

The OL leads with his fist and blocks with his entire arm throwing through the defenders armpit. This block is
usually used on
Inside Zone
1. DETERMINE YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Zone blocking BEGINS with assigning everyone a MAN. (Many times in zone blocking everybody MAN blocks
except Center & On Guard as in the example below-the old Tom Landry "PRO 4-3").

C responsibility # 0

OG’s responsibility # 1

OT’s responsibility # 2

Y & H responsibility # 3
2. DETERMINE WHETHER YOU ARE COVERED OR UNCOVERED
Covered means a defender is on the LOS on any part of your body! If there is a question, clarify with
blocking call)_.

• If you are UNCOVERED – ZONE WITH YOUR TEAMMATE TO PLAYSIDE.

• If you are COVERED, look at your backside teammate

• If backside teammate is UNCOVERED, zone with him (he will combo with you to LB)

• If backside teammate is COVERED, man block (no help from him)

In the example above, since Center is uncovered he ZONES with RG. Since RG is covered & inside teammate
(Center) is uncovered by a DLM - he knows he will zone with Center.

IMPORTANCE OF PRESNAP LOOK AND UNDERSTANDING TECHNIQUE OF DEFENDER:

A CRUCIAL phase of teaching zone blocking is for the uncovered man to know the TECHNIQUE of the Defensive
Lineman on his covered playside teammate (covered man can use CALLS to indicate this).

EXAMPLE (I'm the Right Guard & uncovered): If my Playside teammate has a man on his INSIDE SHOULDER - it is
90% certain that I will END up on him. If there is a man HEAD UP on him - it is 50% (or better) that I will END up
on him. If there is a man on his OUTSIDE SHOULDER - odds are only about 10% that I might END up on him.
(NOTE: "END UP" meaning that the other man comes off on LB).

UNCOVERED O-LINEMAN: (Responsibility is for inside half of down lineman over playside team mate). Take a
lead step playside (roughly 45 degree angle) and catch up with your covered teammate. As you work through
your playside gap, READ THE NEAR KNEE of the down lineman on him

• if the near knee comes towards you block his inside number & fit him up sliding in the direction
he is going (keep eyes on Lb'er in case he comes inside)

• if near knee doesn’t come towards you work up onto LB'er. 3 situations can occur (see
COVERED MAN).

COVERED MAN: (Responsibility is for outside half of down lineman IF inside team mate is uncovered). 1st step is
a lead step with your outside foot eyeballing outside number of down lineman on you – 2nd step with inside
foot thru crotch of opponent. You must think man block and only go to LBer when wiped off by uncovered
teammate. Three situations usually occur:

1 . Down lineman is in an outside shade & stretches outside– you stay on him and uncovered
teammate works through to LB'er.

1 . Down lineman is head up & anchors on you – use double team technique driving him into
Lber. Stay on him until wiped off by uncovered teammate then work straight up onto the
LBber.

1 . Down lineman head up or inside shade & slants inside – force him to flatten his slant & stay
on him until wiped off by uncovered teammate then work straight up on Lber.
LINEMEN NOT ZONING USE “DRIVE” (MAN) BLOCKS. Don’t worry as much about getting position on defender
as you do about blow delivery and finishing your block. When coming off the ball, guide with your eyes (aim
with your face), which will take you to the aiming point or landmark, the defender's playside #.

1. Your first step is a short directional step and you throw your arms out of the socket (wind up
MUCH farther than “shooting from the holster”).

2. On the second step, your power foot must be on the ground and you arm thrust (100% blow
delivery) with your fists into the defender's short ribs (below the pads), tucking your tail and “lifting
him out of his socks”. DON'T put your face or shoulder in, because you will be overextended and
your head will be down.
OUTSIDE ZONE
Outside Zone is designed to be an off-tackle no loss play. If the back hits the hole with conviction, the
number of double teams on the LOS should result in vertical running lanes and a consistent positive yardage
running game. Outside zone is not a “to the sidelines” sweep, it is designed to cut upfield at the LOS.

QB: Open playside (step to 4 or 8 o’clock) and intersect the RB’s path to the TE. Extend the ball to the RB, as
this will sell the play action pass scheme we run off this play. After handoff, run FULL SPEED bootleg action
away from direction of zone. This keeper fake will help hold the BS DE, and set up our bootleg play action
pass game.

TB: Drop step and run straight for TE’s rear end.

TB READS: Read the helmet of the 2nd down linemen OUTSIDE the center (shaded NG does NOT count). Do
not read the OLB. If his helmet goes inside, turn the ball upfield just outside of him. If his helmet goes
outside, switch read to next inside down lineman (usually a DT). If that helmet also goes outside, cut the ball
back across his face. If it goes inside, cut the ball upfield between him and the lineman you first read.

TB…One Cut Rule: You are only allowed to make one cut and then you MUST get upfield at full speed. Do
NOT cut until you have reached the LOS and do NOT “dance” in the hole. The best cut is NO cut !!

OFFENSIVE LINE RULES & TECHNIQUE: Outside Zone is blocked with the same rules as Inside Zone. The
primary differences in technique are:

1 . Covered lineman who has help from an uncovered backside team mate will actually rip
through the man covering him (essentially blocking him with the outside of his backside arm
and his hip/back/shoulder) which forces his backside uncovered team mate to take over the
block so the covered man can come off onto the LB to playside (“force the switch”)

2. Uncovered lineman will execute a wider reach block (almost a pull) in order to “piggyback”
his covered playside team mate and will stay on the down defensive lineman covering his team
mate so that blocker can come off onto the playside LB’er
 To successfully block a play in the Zone series, I must:
1. Understand the angle on which the play is run and therefore the angle or tracks along which I will
block people!

2. Know whom to block in a given front!

3. Know whether I will be cooperating with someone in blocking my man, and with whom that
cooperation will occur!

4. Understand and execute the technique of the individual or cooperation block called for by the play I
am running!

5. FINISH!
ZONE TECHNIQUE: General Points
• Block defenders on the angle you find them!
• Use great TARGETING with head, hands, and feet to:
• MOVE them laterally (they help block themselves)
• COVER THEM UP (define a lane for the back to run to)
• Lose ground to gain an angle!
• FEET:
• 2nd step must get on the ground FAST – POWER
• “First meaningful contact wins!”
• Run your feet – SOONER / QUICKER / WIDER
• TANDEM (Cooperation) BLOCKS:
• Adjust your split (esp. Guards) to get close to the guy you’re working with!
• Feel DL with your hand(s), see LB with your eyes!
• Don’t come off to LB until he commits to the L.O.S. (vertical movement!)
ZONE TECHNIQUE: Covered OL (no Cooperation)
• TARGETS
• 1st step: Big toe of outside foot on pinkie toe of his outside foot;
nd
• 2 step: Pinkie toe of my inside foot on big toe of his outside foot
• Head: Inside edge of his outside number
• Hands: Must be inside
• FIRST STEP & CONTACT
• If DL is tight to me: Hanging lead step, punch off 1st step
• If DL is loose to me: Drop step, fast 2d step, punch off 2nd step
• Unlock hips with first step regardless; open to angle of play, block him on the angle you find
him!
• SUSTAIN
• Must work for vertical pressure THROUGH him
• Press with INSIDE hand on Slice & Slant; OUTSIDE hand Chase
• FINISH
• When he peeks and you feel a loss of pressure: Pull him to you, run your feet, and FINISH
him!
ZONE TECHNIQUE: Cooperation ‘Tandems’