Zone Blocking in Football

Steve Addazzio - University of Florida

Notes by Hez Butler for GridironChat.com from the 2008 Atlanta Glazier Clinic

Football Coaching Philosophy

  1. Fox Hole
    1. Can I trust you? (can't trust = can't coach)
    2. Do you care?
  2. What we say here, stays here, when we leave here.
  3. Relentless effort to be great!
  4. Tool Box - Learn your trade.
  5. Ego Away
  6. Meeting Room
    1. Have fun:  work when time
  7. Be the Head Coach of position.

 

 Offensive Line Techniques

    Mate Blocking  = gap-zone; combo/double team blocking

    Principles must be worked and preached everyday for zone blocking.

  1. Hip 2 Hip
  2. 4 eyes on LB
  3. OL to side of LB working to deliver ball w/ shoulder
  4. Cover/Uncovered w/ indicator system
  5. Step to LB
  6. Arm to LB free

    7.  

     

    Deliver/Take Over

    Drills = pre-fit, stance to pre-fit, stance to live

     

    (Step near foot to LB; combo to)

 

    Zone Blocking Concept

  1. Zone:  2-3-4; OL & TE working together
  2. Evolution
    1. Attack ODD/Slanting
    2. Gives angles/advantages
    3. Run-off/no worry
  3. Numbering System
    1. Center ID's = find "0"
    2. Finds by on or over playside player
    3. Rules:
      1. PSTE - PS gap to #3
      2. PST - PS gap to #2
      3. PSG - PS gap to #1
      4. C - PS gap to #0
      5. BSG - PS gap to #1
      6. BST - PS gap to #2

Zone Numbering System

     

    Covered/Uncovered

  1. Covered = outside shade/head up inside
  2. Uncovered = is the DL on the covered man shaded to you or away

    3.  

    Align

  3. Covered - up as close to LOS as possible
  4. Uncovered as deep off the LOS as possible

    5.  

    If you get an outside shade:

    Away:  from the run = Wedge Step/1 hand on

    To:  the run = 2 hands on

     

    Zone Running Plays

    Tight Zone

     

     

    Covered

    Uncovered

    Aim 

    outside #

    Wedge/90 degree, aim near hip

    Footwork

    wedge step PS/Backside 90 degrees

     

     

     

     

    Stretch

     

    Cov.

    Uncov.

    Aim

    Outside armpit

    Screws on Screws

    Footwork

    Wide wedge; Back knee through crotch

    Wide wedge; 3 hard & KNOCKOUT! / up to LB

     

    OZ  Seal Front; "Lock the Box"

    .

    Cov.

    Uncov.

    Aim

    Outside #

    Get Face across

    Footwork

    Rip-Reach-Overtake = wide wedge (open pull), cross over, punch w/off arm, get shoulders vert

    Big Reach-rip-run

     

Offensive Line Zone Blocking Drills

    Boards = steps, contact

    Drive LB

    Get off

    Sift

     

     

    How to handle extra defender?

    Weak side:

  1. Read Wk. Defender
  2. Extra blocker
  3. Naked

    4.  

    Strong side:

  4. Pitch
  5. Extra Defender

    6.  

     

 

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