Huskie Outside Zone Play - Outside Blocking

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n behalf of our entire staff, I would like to thank the AFCA Summer Manual Committee for allowing us to share our outside zone. We have been researching this play for a number of years, and there are a number of staffs and individuals who have influenced our thoughts. I would be remiss not to thank them as well. In 1999, we ran the outside zone play a total of 92 times. We ran it from our oneback formations 48 times for a 7.11 yard per attempt average. From our two-back formations, we ran it 44 times for a 4.6 yard per attempt average. Combined, the play was 52 percent efficient. An efficient play for us, is when a run gets 4.0 yards or makes a first down on a second or third down call. Why We Are Committed to the Outside Zone 1. We can run it to the tight end, or to the split end. 2. It can be run from multiple formations and backfield sets (Thirteen different formations in ’99). 3. The play allows us to put our best players on the field. 4. We don’t feel like we have to be physically dominant at a position to be successful. 5. We can game plan specific matchups, or take advantage of numbers vs. sets. i.e. (one-back — six or seven defenders in the box). 6. Our offensive line can be aggressive throughout the scheme. 7. Assists our offensive line vs. defensive line movements. 8. There is great carry-over with techniques for the offensive line. 9. Because it is a staple for our offensive run game, we feel through repetition, we will become good at something. Zone Teaching When we teach this play, we want it to be simple and taught part-to-whole method. There are three key elements our kids up front must know. First, you are responsible for the down defender on our outside (playside). Second, you must know whether you are covered or uncovered (playside or backside). Third, you must understand the angle at which the play is being run. We begin teaching zone by defining the zone or area as: 1. From the offensive linemen’s line to the adjacent offensive linemen’s midline.

2. Working the angle or track on which the play is being run. 3. From the down defender to the second level or linebacker depth.

Huskie Outside Zone Play/ Zone Blocking

Diagram 1

General Coaching Points • Eighteen-inch splits • Offensive guard’s helmet will just break the center’s belt line. Tackles will align on guards, tight ends on the tackles (Alignment off the ball). • The offensive line will be in a right handed stance on the right side, and a left handed stance on the left side. Our reasons for doing this: We feel like we will be more accurate with our first step, our angles for our uncovered linemen will be better and we feel we will minimize crossover steps or stepping underneath ourselves. Offensive Line We break it down to covered or uncovered — playside or backside. We use descriptive terms for our tandems. When at the point of attack, we use the word thick, when back-side, we use the word thin. (We try to create an image for the linemen through the scheme). Teaching points for covered linemen — Working with help (playside). - Thick First Step First step is with playside shoe, it is a lateral lead or position step (four inchsix inch step). The angle of the first step is determined by the alignment of the down defender. (The wider defender, the deeper the angle). We want the first step to be outside the framework of the down defender. Get the front toe, knee and hip to open on the same line as the target. Coaching Point: Get the first step up and down as quick as possible, landing on and working off the instep or inner half of the foot (keep knee and ankle inside of the outside half of the shoe).

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

Dan Roushar Offensive Coordinator/ Offensive Line Coach Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Ill.

Second Step The second step is with our inside shoe. We want to drive it through the crotch of the down defender. Coaching Point: Get it down! Our reason for getting our second step through the crotch of the down defender is so that we minimize a crossover step. (We don’t want the defender to flatten us down the line of scrimmage). Third Step The third step is with the play-side foot. We want to drive it up the field and square to the defender. Coaching Point: At a minimum, maintain the line of scrimmage covering the down defender. Key Coaching Point: Emphasize to offensive linemen to keep knees over toes, chest over knees and tail down with weight centered (leverage). Common Error: When reaching, linemen tend to get upright and weight shifts back. Target and Contact • Our point of aim is with our inside shoulder through the outside number of the down defender. • We want to strike the defender with a low point shoulder. • Work the inside heel of the hand, through the sternum of the defender (thumb up — keeps elbow tucked). • Emphasize tight fit — head and eyes up the field between defender and where the ball is being run. • When delivering a blow, we want to create an edge by turning his outside shoulder (We talk in terms of dislocating the outside shoulder). • When we come out of our stance, we emphasize cocking our hands to our pocket line. • We coach the inside arm through the sternum of the down defender so that we can physically control the man in the event he works inside, we know we will have surface presence on him through the exchange (thick). Play-side Uncovered Man (Short Puller) First Step (Bucket) — (Depth). • Open toe, knee and hip so that you are on an angle to over take down defender (Get foot on the ground now!). • Midline of body should angle toward the sideline.

Coaching Point: May have to lose a little ground to gain ground. Second Step — Action • We refer to our second step as an action step. • Second step is with our inside foot. Key color of down defender, with peripheral vision have awareness for linebacker. Third Step The third step will work to overtake zone tandem block or put us on our track to overtake the linebacker. Key: Color of the down defender. Target: Inside shoulder for playside number of down defender (Keep shoulder point down). Coaching Points for Tandems or Zone Combos Uncovered • If color works towards uncovered linemen, overtake be thick on exchange. • If color works away from uncovered linemen, work angle to linebacker. • If color is covering offensive linemen, but is present, strain through the tandem blocking two for two. Covered • Covered linemen, do not come off the down defender until you feel the short puller. • Come off the down defender when linebacker’s feet cross the down defender. • Strain vertical, through the down defender, up to the second level. Eliminate the two-way, go for linebacker, make him play over the top of the tandem. Playside Note If the offensive lineman inside of you is covered, realize that a tandem normally does not exist. When that occurs, all techniques of a covered lineman’s block will still be the same with regard to our footwork. However, we will now put our face on the outside number of the down defender and not our inside shoulder. No Trailer — No Help. Backside — (Thin), Backside Guard — Tackle — Tight End • We will cut everything on the backside working through the zone (We do not expect the ball to break back to us). Coaching Point: Run through the area. Get the backside shoulder above the hip of

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

the down defender. If defender is present, cut him. If defender works away, work up to second level and cut. It is critical to attack on angles to where the defender is going to be and not where he is. Fundamental Drill Teaching Progression Covered Drill: Covered — Align defender — head up — outside — loose, work both directions (right and left). Purpose: Demonstrate proper angle of departure and technique of block. Keys: Steps — hands — shoulder placement — fit.

Diagram 2A

Diagram 2B

Diagram 2C

Short Puller Drill: Short Puller — Align defender (cones) at linebacker depth — adjust linebackers angle after quality reps. Purpose: Demonstrate proper angle of departure and technique of block. Keys: Depth midline to sideline, angle to where defender is going to be (Diagram 3). Working Tandems Drill: Work combos. Purpose: Demonstrate angles of departure — techniques in tandems.

Keys: Steps — hands — tandems.

Diagram 6: vs. Eagle Front

Diagram 9: vs. 50

Diagram 7: vs. Strong Eagle

Second Step: Crossover and run. Key: Focus on end man on line of scrimmage, if color is outside, press inside. If no color is showing, press it outside. Coaching Point: We are working for an initial pace, so we tell our tailback to be slow to hole and then be fast through. It is important to develop trust with the quarterback exchange so that your course is a straight line run, and not veered looking for the ball.

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

Diagram 8: vs. Bear Diagram 5: vs. 4-3 Front

Quarterback Open step to 4 o’clock or 8 o’clock. On your second step, get the ball as deep and as wide as possible. The exchange should take place over the tackle box.

Tailback Alignment: Six-and-a-half to seven yards deep (based on ability).

Steps: First step will open with playside foot. Point of Aim: At the inside leg of the tight end or imaginary tight end.

Wide Receiver As a general rule in our one-back sets, our widest receiver at the point of attack will block primary support. In our two-back sets, most of the time we will block the corner. Backside receiver will work backside cut-off.

E v e r y b o d y ’s NOT Doing It Finger pointing and dismissing unethical acts with an “everyone’s doing it” attitude in the public arena does nothing to help the game or the image of the football profession — your profession. Everybody’s NOT doing it, but those who do flaunt the rules and the AFCA Code of Ethics are only encouraged if those honest coaches in the profession treat such acts lightly. Stand up for your profession by acting responsibly. Lead by example and insist that your fellow coaches adhere to strict professional standards that are outlined in the Code of Ethics.

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •