Offensive line coaches have a goal to ensure their players are equipped with the necessary skills to execute plays effectively. One of the fundamental plays in football today is the inside zone run. It's essential to train linemen to perform it to perfection. Let’s explore the key aspects of training to run the inside zone.
Stance and Start: The stance and start are critical to all offensive line play. Linemen should have a balanced stance with feet shoulder-width apart, and weight evenly distributed. Their back should be flat with their head up, looking straight ahead.
For the start, the offensive linemen should explode off the ball. The first step should be with their playside foot, and they should take a power step towards the defender they are assigned to block.
Blocking assignments: The inside zone running play involves the offensive linemen blocking the defensive linemen head up on them or in the gap to their playside. The linemen should work on identifying their blocking assignments and effectively executing combo blocks to move the defensive linemen off the line of scrimmage. They should also be prepared to block any defenders who penetrate the line, such as linebackers or safeties.
One common change that coaches make is with the backside tackle. If the defensive end lining up outside the back side tackle is causing problems on the runs, the tackle can seal him off with a hinge block instead of zone blocking to the play side. This change needs to be practiced and communicated to the rest of the line so that assignments can be adjusted if necessary.
Reading the defense: It's important for offensive linemen to be able to read the defense and adjust their blocking assignments accordingly. The linemen should be trained to identify the defensive alignment and movement, and adjust their blocking assignments as necessary.
To effectively read the defense, offensive linemen must be able to identify the alignment and techniques of the defensive linemen and linebackers. They should start by looking at the alignment of the defensive linemen to determine their responsibilities for blocking.
For example, if the defensive tackle is shaded to the outside of the right guard on a zone right play (3 technique), the guard will be responsible for blocking that defensive tackle, while the center will be responsible for the middle linebacker. If the defensive tackle is head up or shaded to the inside of the guard the center and the guard will combo the tackle up and away from the line.
In addition to alignment, offensive linemen should also look for key indicators from the defensive linemen, such as their hand placement, stance, and footwork. Like, if a defensive lineman has his weight shifted to one side, it may indicate that he is preparing to slant or stunt in that direction.
It's also important for offensive linemen to communicate with each other pre-snap to ensure they are on the same page and can adjust to any defensive changes or movements. This communication can be done through verbal cues or visual signals, such as pointing or tapping their helmets.
By effectively reading the defense, offensive linemen can anticipate and adjust to the defense's movements and techniques, ensuring that they are in the best position to execute their blocking assignments and open up holes for the running back.
Combo blocks and climbing to block linebackers: Ideally, the offense can create combo blocks on the down linemen, which allows two offensive linemen to work together to block a single defensive lineman. This can free up another offensive lineman to climb straight to a linebacker.
For combo blocks, the offensive linemen must communicate pre-snap and post-snap to identify their assignments. For example, the center and right guard may double-team the defensive tackle before the right guard peels off to block the middle linebacker.
Once the combo block is established, the offensive lineman who is free to climb to the second level must quickly identify the direction the linebacker is moving to get to the play. If the middle linebacker flows over the top toward the right, the right guard will come off the combo and the center will take over the block on the down lineman. If, instead, the linebacker comes left to catch the runner on the cutback, the center will come off the combo to pick up the linebacker and the right guard will take over the block on the down lineman..
The climbing lineman needs to have good footwork and body control to reach the second level and make a successful block. They should take a good angle towards where the linebacker is going to go (instead of where they are at the start of the play) and keep a low center of gravity to maintain leverage and power. It's important to emphasize the proper technique for climbing and blocking linebackers. Linemen should keep their head up, eyes on the linebacker, and maintain good pad level. They should be aggressive but under control, not overextending themselves or getting out of position.
Adjustments: As with any football play, adjustments may need to be made during the course of the game. Linemen should be prepared to adjust their blocking assignments based on the defense's alignment and movement. They should be trained to recognize and adjust to blitzes and stunts, linebacker and defensive line movement, and adjust their tempo to keep the defense off balance.
It's important for linemen to communicate with each other and with the quarterback or running back to make sure everyone is on the same page. They should be trained to recognize when adjustments need to be made and how to communicate them effectively.
Patience and Persistence: Finally, running inside zone requires patience and persistence. The offensive linemen need to establish and hold their blocks, keeping their technique until the running back has made his cut. They also need to be persistent in their effort, driving their feet and finishing their blocks until the whistle blows.
Running inside zone seems easy when it’s drawn up on the page. It gets complicated when a live defense starts lining up differently or moving around pre-snap. The overarching key to executing inside zone consistently well is repetition and practicing against many different defensive looks. The linemen will learn how to read and communicate so much better if they can get “live reps” instead of just static ones.
Savage Style has you covered on Inside Zone, Outside Zone, and every Zone in between...
