THE INSIDE ZONE RUN

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Blitz
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THE RUNNING GAME USED TO BE SIMPLE

The running game in football used to be pretty simple. The most complex things you would see for line play were some pulling guards to run sweeps or traps. But then several years ago you began to hear the word zone blocking for the running game get thrown around more and more frequently.

In the offense I grew up in, most of the time, the running back had a specific point to try to run through, and the offensive line tried to create a seam right in that spot. With zone blocking, the running back isn't told exactly where to go. Hisis first couple of steps are directed to the point at which he gets the hand-off from the QB, but from there it's his responsibility to find a seam.

TWO DIFFERENT ZONE RUNS


There are a couple different kinds of zone runs. Two of the most common being the inside zone and the zone 'stretch'. I've covered the 'stretch run' (sometimes called the outside zone run) in a previous post on the Annus Stukus Chalk Talk Forum. This post will feature the 'inside zone run'.

THE INSIDE ZONE RUN


The 'inside zone' is more of a downhill attack, and is more likely to produce the cutback lane. The zone 'stretch run' does just what it sounds like - runs more towards the edge, trying to get defensive flow horizontally so a vertical seam can be created for the back to dart through.

ZONE RUN BLOCKING

Zone run blocking requires offensive linemen who can move horizontally. In fact, the offensive line must be able to move horizontally, while keeping their shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and while engaging the defense. If the offensive lineman open up their shoulders at all, it can create a seam for the defense to get penetration, and disrupt the play before it starts. Their first step is incredibly important. In most instances it's going to be a very short (6 inches), very quick step directly to the side in which the play is running (in a zone to the right it will to the right with the right foot and vise versa). It should be almost directly horizontal. The reason the first step is so important is it allows the offensive lineman to keep a solid base, and ensures they stay squared to the line.

THE INSIDE ZONE RUN

In a traditional isolation play, everyone would block the man in front of them while the fullback picked up the linebacker and the tailback followed him through the hole. This can still work fine, but if the defense runs any twists or slants, it can really affect the result of the play negatively. It often results in a loss or minimal gain for the offence. That's the primary reason for running a zone type blocking scheme; instead of being responsible for an individual, the offensive lineman has to work with the guy next to him to block whoever shows.

BLOCKING FOR THE INSIDE ZONE RUN

In zone blocking for the 'inside zone run offensive linmenan work in pairs with one being given first responsibility and the next being given second level responsibility. The two offensive lineman have to work together and block the defensive lineman, depending on which side he shows. It's why the first step is very important for them.

For example, if Angus Reid, playing centre, takes too big of a step, he'll leave a large gap, allowing a nose tackle to crash down on him, disrupting the entire play. If he takes too little of a step, he can't induce any flow (linebackers read the offensive lineman's steps and will slide the same direction to maintain their position) from the middle linebacker, making it much more difficult for him and the guard to pick him up. The defensive lineman is going to be facing an immediate double team on almost any running play. If he can force his hand on those offensive linemen, his linebackers are going to LOVE him as they will make a tackle for a loss. It's also very clear to see why and where that cutback lane is going to be (right off the left hip of the left guard). This only further emphasizes why Ty Williams is such a key player on the Leos defense.

BLOCKING AN ODD MAN FRONT

It's very important that the left guard and center don't lose any ground to the nose tackle, if the defense is in an 'odd' front. If the nose tackle gets any penetration whatsoever, the potential cutback lane disappears. The tailback doesn't need to cutback all the time. There should be running space in both the A and B gaps on the strong side of the play. In fact, offences will often initially try to pound it on the strong side a couple of times, to try and develop quicker defensive flow to the strong side, making the cutback an even better option later.

QUARTERBACK PLAY FOR THE ZONE RUN

For the QB, it's very important that he gets the ball the running back as deep and as quickly as possible. Again, the quicker and deeper the quarterback can get the tailback the ball, the better angle he has at the cutback lane. You'll also often see the quarterback fake bootleg to the weakside of the play. The fake booteg does three things that a straight drop won't do: a) it helps hold the defensive end from crashing down, and b) keeps the weakside linebacker honest for the same reasons, and c) it gives more options offensively for play action.

THE 'ACE' BACKFIELD INSIDE ZONE RUN

What about in a different formation? One that doesn't have a fullback. Our Leos ran the 'inside zone run' without a fullback last season. Our offence utilizes an extra receiver, instead of the fullback, and we run the ball out of an 'ace' backfield with Joe Smith as the lone back.

This does two things to the offense. First, it makes the block on the linebackers much more difficult, thus making the cutback a bit more of a challenging proposition. As a benefit though, it should make the defense much softer on the strong side of the ball. You can clearly see how some times a ball carrier will take the inside zone and, rather than cutting back, bounce the play outside to the strong side.

THE STRETCH PLAY IS DIFFERENT THAN THE INSIDE ZONE RUN

The 'stretch running play' is obviously much different, and has entirely different aims than the inside zone run. Rather than trying to get flow that can be sealed off and cut behind, the offence is trying to force the defensive front to flow and to stretch horizontally so that seams can be created. There are options in terms of blocking. With a speedy tailback the offence will not always block the weakside, letting the weakside defensive end go immediately to the second level. However, if that defensive end is good, the offence may want to keep the offensive tackle on him, hoping that congestion will make it tough for the weakside linebacker to make a play.

The bulk of the offensive line is going to be working as a team trying to get a body onto the defenders in the 'second level'. The tailback is taking a much more aggressive outside path, forcing the QB to hustle to get him the ball. The quarterback will hand-off as deep as possible so the tailback has better angles on any potential lanes. As the QB has to work so hard to get the tailback the ball, offences will often have the QB plant his right foot after the hand-off and sink into a pocket.

THE TAILBACK

It's always very important for the tailback to stay patient and let the zone develop, but it's also necessary that as soon as he sees a crease - for the tailback accelerate through it. These types of plays take a lot of repetition in practice to run well. The reps will help the tailback to understand when and where to expect those creases to open up. The zone is a fantastic play, but can be greatly disrupted by one or two talented defensive linemen. Inside penetration kills the play, as does a failure to communicate among the offensive line.

WRAP

Last season, the success of our running game was based upon our Leos ability to effectively use the inside zone run and the 'stretch' play. With power offensive tackles like Murphy and Jiminez, along with effective inside zone blocking from Reid, Rasouli, and Bates, our offensive line was was able to create seams and get initial double teams. Joe Smith had the ability to run to the strong side of the play with power and also the ability to cut back and find seams. When he got into the second layer of the defence he was difficult to bring down. With only five offensive lineman and an 'ace' backfield, we sometimes struggled to bounce it outside, but that's a topic for another post.

In the previous season to our Grey Cup victory, our offensive line struggled with twists, slants, and run blitzes. Zone blocking, improved personel, and more of a committment to the running game enabled our offence to be more balanced, to execute long drives, and to get the 'tough' yards when they needed to. I'm anticipating our Leos running attack to be even more effective this upcoming season.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
uncle leo
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I think the run game has gotten simpler over the last few years. I think the runningback has more responsiblilties to find the hole but thier physical co-ordnation and agilities have to be greatly improved over the years.

The offensive linemens responsibilities seem to have been reduced but again thier physical fitness has been increased by the zone blocking techniques.

I think the run plays are 'simpler' now, its the conditioning and advanced techniques that have created the notion that todays plays are more complex.
TheLionKing
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Blitz, couple of questions: What is the A gap as opposed to the B gap ?
Are there situations where the stretch play is more productive than the Inside Zone Run ?
Blitz
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Blitz, couple of questions: What is the A gap as opposed to the B gap ?
Are there situations where the stretch play is more productive than the Inside Zone Run ?
Thanks for asking TheLionKing! When discussing football terminology reference is made to specific gaps and specific techniques used by defensive players to determine their alignment against a particular offense. Simply put, a gap is a space between offensive linemen, and a technique is a description of how the defender should align on his offensive counterpart.

Gaps are given letter names, and named from the inside out. The center/guard gap becomes the "A" gap, the guard/tackle gap the "B" gap, and so on. A defensive player could be lined up in the gap or directly opposite the offensive lineman or partially to one side (outside shade or inside shade)

With regard to your question "Are there situations where the stretch is more productive than the inside zone run and the answer is yes. Of the two plays I like the inside zone run better but you have to have both in your offence because they obviously attack different areas of the defence.

Of the two plays... the answer is complex, depending on the defensive fornation and personel. Offensive formation is also a factor. I'll try to answer the question by using the Leos offence. Our Leos do not utilize a tight end or fullback and utilize the shotgun fornation. The inherent problem with running the inside zone play from a one back set is that all of the defenders on the line of scrimmage are not blocked. The player who will not be blocked is the backside defensive end. If the backside defensive end is 'crashing down' to the inside he can cause more problems for the play than the stretch. That said, the inside zone run is more of a downhill attack..so if you need tough yards it's usually the better play!

The stretch play can be more productive against a defense that has light defensive rush ends that can be overpowered!
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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