THE "STRETCH PLAY"
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:41 pm
THE ?STRETCH? PLAY
The stretch running play is very much in vogue these days, both in the NFL and the CFL!! In the SuperBowl we saw the Indianapolis Colts very successfully use the stretch play as an integral part of their offence. The Seattle Seahawks have made excellent use of the stretch play as a key component of their running game with Shawn Alexander, who is so patient, that he will run the ball all the way to the sidelines looking for an opening.
In the CFL, our Leos implemented the stretch running play last season, with good success. Dickenson or Pierce would take a couple of hard steps to their right or left and then hand off the ball to Joe Smith, who would either run the ball to the side of the play or cut back against the grain.
THE POPULARITY OF THE ZONE RUN
The zone run has been make popular because of advanced defenses, the lateral speed of defensive players, and the athleticism of offensive lineman and running backs. In the past, most running plays were designed to go to a specific hole or gap along the offensive line. A zone run requires the running back to read the blocks in front of him and choose the best crease to enter. The stretch play also leads to many ?cutback runs? where the running back can start in one direction and turn back when an opening develops elsewhere.
RUNNING BACK AND OFFENSIVE LINE WORK IN UNISON
The stretch play, sometimes called the ?outside zone run' involves the offensive line and the running back working in unison. For the running back the stretch play requires more quickness than power. It also requires patience and the ability to cut back. For the offensive line it means the ability to understand and execute zone blocking schemes. The offensive lineman begin the play by stepping the same way, with what is called a 'weight adjustment step'. When they take this step, and the team runs all three phases of the zone run, the defence or the fan in the stands can't tell if the ball is going to be stretched and go outside to the tackle area and bounce, or to the guard tackle area, or to the backside cutback. The whole theory (of the zone-blocking scheme) is stretch-and-cut... stretch the front side and cut the backside .
FRONT SIDE AND BACKSIDE OF THE STRETCH PLAY
There's two sides to a running play?. the front side and the back side. Where the ball is going (say it's going to the right) that's the front side. The opposite side...that's the back side. In the zone scheme, the goal is to get the defensive guys on the 'backside' down on the ground. Which means cut their legs out!! That way, they can't pursue, and when the running back is running to the right and he sees a cutback lane (to the left), he can cut back and everybody on the backside is on the ground, so nobody's there to tackle him. Cutting off the ?backside? is very important to the success of the stretch play and technique is the key to success? using proper footwork and hand placement.
The challenges with cut blocking - in which linemen launch their bodies at the defender's legs, aiming just above "the play-side knee", are twofold. Offensive lineman can't work on this technique in practice against live players and secondly, offensive lineman who were trained to a man blocking schemes, are often not skilled at cut blocking techniques and require additional technique work. Sometimes offensive teams will also try to 'seal' rather than 'cut' the backside, using proper positioning to enable the running back to cut back. The backside offensive lineman creates a 'seal' with his body to allow the running back to change direction and cut back as the defensive lineman's flow towards the initial direction of the play... is used against him.
ZONE BLOCKING
In zone blocking, linemen are not responsible for a man, but rather an area, and when they slide laterally, in unison, gaps open. Most professional teams, when running the ball, now use zone blocking schemes. Zone blocking originates with blocking the first level (defensive line). There are usually two double teams on every zone blocking play (playside and backside...sometimes refered to as weakside).
From each double team, one of the lineman from each will work into the next level (linebackers). Depending on the flow of the linebackers, either the drive man (inside blocker of double team) or the post man (outside man of the double team) will leave the double team in order to reach the linebacker. If the linebacker reads over the top of the double team (outside) then the post man leaves the double team in order to block the flowing linebacker. If the linebacker comes inside the double team (underneath), the drive/inside double teamer will pick up the backer. This scheme of the zone creates cut backs lanes, which good runners will know where to find. Cut back lanes are created due to an over commitment (flow) by the defense and a seal or 'cut' block on the backside by linemen.
DOUBLE TEAMING OPPORTUNITIES
On defence the linebackers have to 'read? the play. This means the offensive linemen can initially double team at the point of attack. The object for the offensive linemen is twofold. One is to create a wall of humanity and no ?run through? lanes for the linebackers. The second is to take their double teams right into the laps of the linebackers. It?s often refered to as ?securing the first level? and then going for ?gold? on the second level. By running it the same way and threatening the entire front, if the linebackers get frisky and try to run through, they are often wrong and create a running lane
The STRETCH "DOUBLE" TECHNIQUE
In executing the stretch double technique, the uncovered lineman assists the covered lineman to the playside; i.e., if a center and playside tackle are covered, the playside guard executes the stretch double with the tackle, NOT the center. If side-by-side linemen are both covered, the ?play? side lineman is "on his own" and executes a stretch base block without double team help.
When executing the double team, both linemen follow what some coaches call a four hands-four eyes technique. This means they have four hands on the defensive lineman and four eyes on the linebacker in the area (their zone- which is where the name of the blocking comes from). When that linebacker commits to attacking the line of scrimmage one of the linemen ?chips? off the double team and blocks him. The other lineman must be in position by then to take over the block on the lineman by himself. The linebacker is technically the responsibility of the uncovered lineman, but in practice either lineman can chip off and take the linebacker, depending on their position.
THE CUTBACK LANE
The goal of the stretch and stretch double is to create a cutback lane for the running back. When executed correctly, the "stretched" defender has moved in the direction of the call, and the stretch double prevents him from reaching a running back that has "cut back" against the flow of the play. If the double team can prevent the down lineman from making the tackle, and the "chip off" block prevents the play side linebacker from doing the same, the play can quickly get into the secondary. The beauty of zone blocking is that the defense can pick its poison. Which ever way they choose to attack or stunt, the linemen (if they have perfected the zone blocking teamwork) can account for them. And the running back is trained to watch this block develop and cut off of it, no matter which direction the defenders are moved.
THINGS THAT CAN HURT THE STRETCH PLAY
Three things that can hurt the stretch play are as follows: 1) allowing defensive lineman to penetreate 2) having the running back cut back too early and 3) missing a cut block or seal block on the backside when the running back uses a cutback technique. Execution is the key to an effective stretch play.
THE 'WRAP"
Most professional teams, when running the ball, now use zone blocking schemes. In the past most running plays were designed to go to a specific hole or gap along the offensive line. A zone run requires the running back to read the blocks in front of him and choose the best crease to enter. The stretch play also leads to many ?cutback runs? where the running back can start in one direction and turn back when an opening develops elsewhere. The stretch play can also very be effectively used to set up play action.
Look to see our Leos use the stretch play a lot next season.
The stretch running play is very much in vogue these days, both in the NFL and the CFL!! In the SuperBowl we saw the Indianapolis Colts very successfully use the stretch play as an integral part of their offence. The Seattle Seahawks have made excellent use of the stretch play as a key component of their running game with Shawn Alexander, who is so patient, that he will run the ball all the way to the sidelines looking for an opening.
In the CFL, our Leos implemented the stretch running play last season, with good success. Dickenson or Pierce would take a couple of hard steps to their right or left and then hand off the ball to Joe Smith, who would either run the ball to the side of the play or cut back against the grain.
THE POPULARITY OF THE ZONE RUN
The zone run has been make popular because of advanced defenses, the lateral speed of defensive players, and the athleticism of offensive lineman and running backs. In the past, most running plays were designed to go to a specific hole or gap along the offensive line. A zone run requires the running back to read the blocks in front of him and choose the best crease to enter. The stretch play also leads to many ?cutback runs? where the running back can start in one direction and turn back when an opening develops elsewhere.
RUNNING BACK AND OFFENSIVE LINE WORK IN UNISON
The stretch play, sometimes called the ?outside zone run' involves the offensive line and the running back working in unison. For the running back the stretch play requires more quickness than power. It also requires patience and the ability to cut back. For the offensive line it means the ability to understand and execute zone blocking schemes. The offensive lineman begin the play by stepping the same way, with what is called a 'weight adjustment step'. When they take this step, and the team runs all three phases of the zone run, the defence or the fan in the stands can't tell if the ball is going to be stretched and go outside to the tackle area and bounce, or to the guard tackle area, or to the backside cutback. The whole theory (of the zone-blocking scheme) is stretch-and-cut... stretch the front side and cut the backside .
FRONT SIDE AND BACKSIDE OF THE STRETCH PLAY
There's two sides to a running play?. the front side and the back side. Where the ball is going (say it's going to the right) that's the front side. The opposite side...that's the back side. In the zone scheme, the goal is to get the defensive guys on the 'backside' down on the ground. Which means cut their legs out!! That way, they can't pursue, and when the running back is running to the right and he sees a cutback lane (to the left), he can cut back and everybody on the backside is on the ground, so nobody's there to tackle him. Cutting off the ?backside? is very important to the success of the stretch play and technique is the key to success? using proper footwork and hand placement.
The challenges with cut blocking - in which linemen launch their bodies at the defender's legs, aiming just above "the play-side knee", are twofold. Offensive lineman can't work on this technique in practice against live players and secondly, offensive lineman who were trained to a man blocking schemes, are often not skilled at cut blocking techniques and require additional technique work. Sometimes offensive teams will also try to 'seal' rather than 'cut' the backside, using proper positioning to enable the running back to cut back. The backside offensive lineman creates a 'seal' with his body to allow the running back to change direction and cut back as the defensive lineman's flow towards the initial direction of the play... is used against him.
ZONE BLOCKING
In zone blocking, linemen are not responsible for a man, but rather an area, and when they slide laterally, in unison, gaps open. Most professional teams, when running the ball, now use zone blocking schemes. Zone blocking originates with blocking the first level (defensive line). There are usually two double teams on every zone blocking play (playside and backside...sometimes refered to as weakside).
From each double team, one of the lineman from each will work into the next level (linebackers). Depending on the flow of the linebackers, either the drive man (inside blocker of double team) or the post man (outside man of the double team) will leave the double team in order to reach the linebacker. If the linebacker reads over the top of the double team (outside) then the post man leaves the double team in order to block the flowing linebacker. If the linebacker comes inside the double team (underneath), the drive/inside double teamer will pick up the backer. This scheme of the zone creates cut backs lanes, which good runners will know where to find. Cut back lanes are created due to an over commitment (flow) by the defense and a seal or 'cut' block on the backside by linemen.
DOUBLE TEAMING OPPORTUNITIES
On defence the linebackers have to 'read? the play. This means the offensive linemen can initially double team at the point of attack. The object for the offensive linemen is twofold. One is to create a wall of humanity and no ?run through? lanes for the linebackers. The second is to take their double teams right into the laps of the linebackers. It?s often refered to as ?securing the first level? and then going for ?gold? on the second level. By running it the same way and threatening the entire front, if the linebackers get frisky and try to run through, they are often wrong and create a running lane
The STRETCH "DOUBLE" TECHNIQUE
In executing the stretch double technique, the uncovered lineman assists the covered lineman to the playside; i.e., if a center and playside tackle are covered, the playside guard executes the stretch double with the tackle, NOT the center. If side-by-side linemen are both covered, the ?play? side lineman is "on his own" and executes a stretch base block without double team help.
When executing the double team, both linemen follow what some coaches call a four hands-four eyes technique. This means they have four hands on the defensive lineman and four eyes on the linebacker in the area (their zone- which is where the name of the blocking comes from). When that linebacker commits to attacking the line of scrimmage one of the linemen ?chips? off the double team and blocks him. The other lineman must be in position by then to take over the block on the lineman by himself. The linebacker is technically the responsibility of the uncovered lineman, but in practice either lineman can chip off and take the linebacker, depending on their position.
THE CUTBACK LANE
The goal of the stretch and stretch double is to create a cutback lane for the running back. When executed correctly, the "stretched" defender has moved in the direction of the call, and the stretch double prevents him from reaching a running back that has "cut back" against the flow of the play. If the double team can prevent the down lineman from making the tackle, and the "chip off" block prevents the play side linebacker from doing the same, the play can quickly get into the secondary. The beauty of zone blocking is that the defense can pick its poison. Which ever way they choose to attack or stunt, the linemen (if they have perfected the zone blocking teamwork) can account for them. And the running back is trained to watch this block develop and cut off of it, no matter which direction the defenders are moved.
THINGS THAT CAN HURT THE STRETCH PLAY
Three things that can hurt the stretch play are as follows: 1) allowing defensive lineman to penetreate 2) having the running back cut back too early and 3) missing a cut block or seal block on the backside when the running back uses a cutback technique. Execution is the key to an effective stretch play.
THE 'WRAP"
Most professional teams, when running the ball, now use zone blocking schemes. In the past most running plays were designed to go to a specific hole or gap along the offensive line. A zone run requires the running back to read the blocks in front of him and choose the best crease to enter. The stretch play also leads to many ?cutback runs? where the running back can start in one direction and turn back when an opening develops elsewhere. The stretch play can also very be effectively used to set up play action.
Look to see our Leos use the stretch play a lot next season.