INSIDE ZONE

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AMHERST STEELE
Implementing the Inside Zone Running Game
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The problem with many of us is simply this. we
like this, we like that. we go to clinics, we
talk to coaches. Ultimately, though, we fail to
recognize that successful offenses are
packaged. I dont care if you run wishbone,
the wing-t, or the I. YOU MUST HAVE A SYSTEM. Ask
yourself this question DO I HAVE A SYSTEM OR
JUST A COLLECTION OF PLAYS? Jerry Hanlon,
Former Offensive Line Coach The University of
Michigan
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• Presentation Goals
• Share how we went from a collection of plays to a
  system and the results of our efforts.
• Communicate what we believe to be the keys to a
  successful zone run game.
• Identify and illustrate the fundamentals of the
  inside zone for each position.
• Review our teaching progression and installation
  plan.
• Show video cuts illustrating our variations of
  the play.

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The Zone Play

• 105 carries for 738 yards
• 20 of our offense attempts in 2004
• 7.0 yards per carry
• 63 efficient (4) yards
• Zero Lost Yardage Plays
• 6 TDs

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How we switched to theZone Running Game

• Discovered we had a problem against odd fronts

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2003 Run Efficiency vs. Even Fronts opponent(8-3
) 71 opponent(1-9) 67 opponent(4-6) 62 oppon
ent(3-7) 62 opponent(6-4) 58 2003 Run
Efficiency vs. Odd Fronts opponent(0-10) 53 opp
onent(7-4) 50 opponent(7-3) 44 opponent(2-8) 3
8 opponent(15-0) 33
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How we switched to the Zone Running Game

• Discovered we had a problem against odd fronts
• Went back and studied ourselves versus the top
  tier of the conference 2000-2003

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Opponent Study 2000-2003

• Record 1-7 versus opponents studied
• 40 run efficient
• 3.44 yards per carry
• Only 8 total 12 yard runs in 8 games
• 32 different run calls used
• Could not identify a base offense from what was
  called

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How we switched to the Zone Running Game

• Discovered we had a problem against odd fronts
• Went back and studied ourselves versus the top
  tier of the conference 2000-2003
• Started with some questions

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Conclusions about our run game(03)

• We have become scheme heavy while sacrificing
  being fundamentally sound
• Our schemes do not provide us with a sequence of
  problems for a defense.
• There is not a logical progression for us. When
  one scheme does not work we just try something
  else.
• We cannot effectively practice all of the schemes
  we have.

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Conclusions about our run game(03)

• Our man scheme blocking causes our lineman to
  become tentative if the defense presents a new
  look or movement.
• We must simplify our offense by cutting down our
  schemes, but make it appear more complicated to
  the defense by presenting more looks(formations,
  shifts, motion).
• What we have been using has not allowed us
  success against the top tier of our conference.

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How we switched to theZone Running Game

• Discovered we had a problem against odd fronts
• Went back and studied ourselves versus the top
  tier of the conference 2000-2003
• Started with some questions
• Decided what our philosophy would be

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2004 Offense

• 1. Attitude - We will attack with a punishing
  running game that destroys the defensive line.
• 2. We will use spread formations to open up the
  run pass.
• 3. We will use a base offense week after week.
• 4. We will adjust with formations, not by adding
  new plays.
• 5. We will take advantage of our abilities with
  personnel packages

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How we switched to the Zone Running Game

• Discovered we had a problem against odd fronts
• Went back and studied ourselves versus the top
  tier of the conference 2000-2003
• Started with some questions
• Decided what our philosophy would be
• Decided to change to zone
• Researched the zone run game

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Why we use zone run

• Can be run versus any defensive alignment.
• Minimizes effectiveness of a defense that moves
  by slanting and angling.
• Allows emphasis on the aggressive and intense
  execution of fundamentals and techniques.
• Allows us to block the line of scrimmage, deny
  penetration, and secure movement by using
  double-team combination schemes. Distorts and
  displaces the defensive front.

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Why we use zone run

• Can be used in a variety of personnel groups
• Tight End/Split End
• Two Back-Two Receiver/Two Back-Three
  Receiver
• One Back
• Shotgun Spread
• Allows for personnel match-ups in game plan.

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Why we use zone run

• Run game allows toughness to permeate the team.
• High percentage passing game can be built off the
  run.
• Provides split end and tight end attack. Do not
  need separate schemes for tight side or split
  side.

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Why we use zone run

• Simple scheme-allows players to be aggressive.
• Many different looks by using the same scheme
  allows for many repetitions for linemen and
  backs.
• Do not have to be overpowering to have success.
• Limits the blitz.
• Wears down the opponent.

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Basic Philosophy of the play

• Deny penetration and take care of level one.
• Ideally we will block the DL into the LB.
• Worst Case scenario is a stalemate.

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The primary objectives of the play are

• To secure movement along the line of scrimmage
  while accounting for blitzes, stunts, slants, and
  stems.
• To create running lanes for the running back by
  distorting and displacing the defense.
• To block zone to call allowing for a double team
  along the line of scrimmage.
• To force the defense to guess where the ball is
  going to be run, while forcing them to be wrong.

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INSIDE ZONE

• FUNDAMENTALS TECHNIQUES

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Our Teaching Progression

• Gap responsibility

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Gap Responsibility
TE
T
G
C
G
T
TE
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Our Teaching Progression

• Gap responsibility
• Defensive Technique Identification

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Defensive Technique Identification
Center has 0 head up, Right Left
1 inside technique
2head up technique
3 outside technique
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Our Teaching Progression

• Gap responsibility
• Defensive Technique Identification
• Landmarks Technique against different alignments

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DL Outside Technique (3)
Step at 45 degrees with The outside foot at
the DLs outside .
Most likely he is outside Gap responsible, so
we Want a hat on his outside .
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DL Head Up Technique(2)
Step is straight ahead with the Outside foot at
the outside .
The DL has a 2-way go, but the OL is outside gap
responsible.
If he comes outside the OL will Still have
outside leverage.
If he goes inside, it is not the OLs Gap
responsibility. He will punch go to level 2.
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DL Inside Technique (1)(Uncovered Pry Technique)
Come off the ball with the Inside foot to the
outside Landmark. Do not allow Penetration.
One hand punch until help From the inside gets
there.
This DL technique rarely Will come across to the
Outside gap, so OL will Be working up to level 2.
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Our Teaching Progression

• Gap responsibility
• Defensive Technique Identification
• Landmarks Technique against different
  alignments
• Combinations

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Frontside Combo Calls

• Call by the Guard for the Center to combo with
  him. Made if there is a 2 or 1.
• Call by the Tackle for the Guard to combo with
  him. Only vs. 50 (2 or 3)
• Call by the Tight End for the Tackle to combo
  with him. Vs. 2 or 3.

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Backside Combo Calls

• Call between C BSG to give BSG help on the
  shade(1 technique)
• Call between BSG BST
• Call between BST BSTE (if there is a TE
  backside only)

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Combo Calls
Tackle
Center
Tackle
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Combo Calls
Tackle
Center
Tackle
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Combo Calls
Tackle
Guard
Guard
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Combo Blocks
Landmark outside
Landmark inside hip
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Combo Blocks
Landmark outside
Landmark inside hip
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Backside Scoop Technique
Punch to buy time Get off to gap responsibility
Scoop get head In front to prevent Penetration.
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Uncovered Backside Tackle(No Call from BSG)
Sift Tech.
Step with near foot to Stop penetration,
then Block most dangerous Man in your area
DE moves away from play.
LB becomes most dangerous.
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Uncovered Backside Tackle(No Call from BSG)
Sift Tech.
Step with near foot to Stop penetration,
then Block most dangerous Man in your area
DE slants to play.
DE becomes most dangerous.
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TB Coaching Points

• No parameters except on down distance
  situations(know how much you need)
• 1st step is open and 2nd is at landmark. Get
  Shoulders pointed to sideline. Make the LBs
  move.
• Where the back goes after that is up to him. If
  you need to be coached a lot,you are not a TB!
  (YOU MUST HAVE VISION!)
• Goal is 3.5 yards minimum every play.

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TB Reads
Read the outside hip of the first Covered lineman
playside.
React to what he does. In this example Cut
inside.
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TB Reads
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Jump Cut Drill
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TB Footwork Drill
Purpose Teach the back to Make a quick lateral
move (simulate cut behind OL) and Then burst.
Can vary direction after lateral Move. Coach
can stand at top Of drill and point, or have
a Player simulate an LB. Other Variations are to
add yards after Contact moves.
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Inside Zone Press the Line Drill
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Inside Zone Press the Line Drill
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QB Coaching Points

• Open at 5 Oclock (7 Oclock to the left).
• QBs job is to get the ball to the TB as deep as
  possible.
• QB is always the adjuster.

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QB Footwork/technique

• Open at 5
• Extend the ball
• Give
• Gather
• Depth Step(5-1/2 to 6 yards deep)
• Naked
• Block the DE(get eyes around and be able to tell
  what he is doing on every play.)

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Gun QB Read Drill QB reads shoulders of
DE Shoulders upfield, end across-give to TB
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Gun QB Read Drill QB reads shoulders of
DE Shoulders turn, end down line-pull and keep
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Receiver Blocking

• Playside - Block Man On. Drive him out of
  bounds. 2 safety look block near safety.
• Backside - Block Near Safety.
• Maintain blocks until whistle.
• WR Blocks turn a big gain into a TD.
• Backside block is just as important play may cut
  back.

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Installation of Play

• 1. Introduce in meeting.
• 2. Drill techniques for play
• 3. 1st Group Run Team periods we will go
  against a head up technique that tries to come
  straight across. OL will not come off of double
  team yet. They will attempt to drive DL into LB.

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Installation of the Play

• 4. 1st group team period it will be the TBs
  job to beat the LBs. OL will not come off of
  combo. TB must press the line, move the LB and
  make his read/cut. He should rip through the hip
  socket of any LB attacking him. We tell the pad
  holders to give the TB a shot.
• 5. Now we teach a head-up that moves. One OL
  will now take the block over and the other step
  off to level 2 LB. We still want them working
  the block up to level 2 and stepping off when the
  LB is to them. We want 4 hands on the DL and 4
  eyes on the LB. We will put cones out to
  indicate when they should step off to LB.
• 6. 2nd Day of Group and Team we will have the DL
  move we will step off to LBs.

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Inside Zone Plays in Our Offense

• TB Zone to TE. FB blocks backside edge
• TB Zone to TE. FB iso blocks FSLB
• TB Zone to SE. FB blocks overhang
• FB Zone to TE(can run to SE if OLB is removed by
  alignment)
• QB Zone from gun with FB lead block

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44/45 Zone
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44 Zone vs. 5-2
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44 Zone vs. 4-4
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44 Zone vs. 4-3
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45 Zone Lead vs. 5-2
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45 Zone Lead vs. 4-3
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45 Zone Lead vs. 4-4
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RESULTS - Run Efficiency Improved in Almost
Every Game

• 2004 Improvement
• 71L 67W -4
• 67W 86W 19
• 62W 68W 6
• 62W 56W -6
• 58W 60W 2
• 53W 78W 25
• 50L 58W 8
• 44W 55W 11
• 38W 73W 35
• 33L 47L 14
• Avg. 10 Games 11.0 per game

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Keith Grabowski School [phone] keith_grabows
ki_at_amherst.k12.oh.us
Mini-camp June 2-4 Camp July 25-28