By the end of this article you should be able to make an educated guess
as to what Braden is saying to A.J. Williams [Fuller]
You may have heard Michigan has a new offensive identity, by which of course we mean Michigan now has an offensive identity. We think. We're told. Evidence for this is Michigan hired a new OC who runs inside zone, and he has even Brady Hoke talking about it being our base thing. This thing is totally happening. I mean if they hadn't sworn up and down for three years that Power was going to be their thi...
Let's just not go into that and focus on inside zone and how to watch inside zone, and how to be correctly disappointed with the correct person when inside zone isn't run very well. Since this is a new thing, and the offensive line are all relatively new things themselves, and the recent history of Michigan football has given you no reason to believe otherwise, and there are some really good defensive linemen Michigan has to go against this year, let's concede right now that Michigan isn't going to be running inside zone very well this season, especially early. Let's pretend like the coaches are going to stick it out anyway and let it play out.
IZ Resources: As well as the above-linked articles, I drew from Chris Brown at Smart Football, and this article that quotes Chris Brown on a Philly Eagles website. And Space Coyote wrote an entire article on IZ and some plays that stem from it in this year's HTTV; I'm sure he'll pipe in as soon as I mess something up here.
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| Every blocker is responsible for whatever defender appears in the "zone" he's responsible for blocking. |
A Temperate Zone
What's inside zone? Maybe it's best to start with what it's not: man. In MANBALL, most linemen have an assigned guy to block; a lead blocker (sometimes a puller) is the only dude who has to make a tough, mid-play decision, and the running back just has to follow that guy.
Inside zone is a base running play where all the blockers are reacting to the defense, not just a lead guy, and the running back has to choose from among various holes that could open up. It takes a different set of skills, mastery of a different set of blocks, and most of all: reps reps and more reps so that everybody can make split-second decisions and those decisions will be correct.
That's not to say all decisions are made after the snap. In fact most blocking assignments are determined by how the defense is lined up. In many cases it won't be all that discernible from man-blocking.
yellow is uncovered. click bigginates.
The read OL have to make is whether they're "covered" or not. Covered means there's a DL lined up across from you. If there isn't, you are "uncovered" and most likely you'll get to go hunting linebackers. But first you look next to you and see if there's a defender shaded to the playside of your buddy; he may need help with that lineman before you release downfield. If that defender is a beast your buddy may need all the help he can get. You deal with the first level defenders before you worry about stopping linebackers.
Almost always, more than one defender will arrive in a blocker's zone. So zone blocking means lots of shared blocking. Ultimately the blocking ends up being 2-on-2 instead of 1-on-1. For example in captioned illustration above-right, the center and right guard are together responsible for blocking the nose tackle and the middle linebacker.
Footwork Impeccable
Offensive linemen in high school seldom get the right footwork down. Zone-blocking footwork isn't the same as pile-driving some dude, for one; and two it's not something many high school coaches know how to teach; and three if you're a 6'6"/300 future Big Ten OL and your job is to block a 6'0"/180 future Big Ten economics major, your greatest motivation to pay attention to your feet is probably the preservation of your prom date's.
In this moment it matters greatly. You need to get off the snap, get playside of your defender, get downfield, and get your feet set beneath you, your hands inside, and your pads beneath his so you can ride him out of the play, stonewall him, or shove him downfield; you let him dictate his fate.
On inside zone, an uncovered guy's first step is always to the play-side, not directly toward the guy you're going to block (the OL taking this step is a good indicator it's a zone-blocked rather than man-blocked play). This is because the DL don't always come straight upfield; you don't want them running by you.
Your job is to block the guy trying to cross you. If someone lined up inside you and ran further inside you, he's not yours. Your head stays downfield until you lock on a target, and any object that attempts to cross your field of vision must be stopped.
That Rabbit's Dynamite
Interesting example of a 1) a cutback and 2) the U starting on the strongside of the formation then executing his backside block almost like a lead blocker
Mastering the combo blocks and footwork to respond to all the things defenses throw at you takes a bazillion reps. The upside: inside zone, like option offenses, is a multi-attack threat that can go where the defense doesn't. A called IZ play could end up going outside, or inside, or cut to the backside depending on how your opponent defends it. A well-run IZ offense doesn't let defensive fronts play aggressively; if they want to stop you they'll have to activate the safeties in the run game, opening up the pass. It's not wimpy; it's smashmouth football that—as you'll see—relies mostly on crushing blocks to break things big.
[After the jump I'll show some sample executions versus various defensive alignments so you can get a sense of how it attacks and what factors lead to its success.]
Sample Play One: Null
The above gif resembles a typical inside zone play where nobody on either side does anything extraordinary or extraordinarily bad. In this case the RB has to make a tough choice because the 5-tech did a good job penetrating; the back settles for slamming it inside. Let's go through it step by step.
1. Read before the snap.
The offense comes to the line of scrimmage. While some long-haired freaky dude is still lamenting the preceding huddle, the linemen are noticing that the defense is in a 4-3 under. The tight end (Y) and the right tackle communicate that they're both covered; neither is getting help from the other. The right guard is uncovered, but the nose tackle is shaded to playside of the center. Since this nose tackle is a 330-pound man-beast who's been giving the offense a hard time all day, the center and the right guard both know that they'll have to combo the nose, with the RG releasing to pick off the MLB once the center's got the beast under control. The left guard is also covered, and is playside of the 3-tech so he feels confident. The LT is uncovered—the WDE is split out to check the U—so he's gonna help the U-back get the WDE before releasing into the WLB. The running back is already checking the DL's alignment and the blocking assignments, psyching himself to spot his hole.
2. Footwork and Combos
Here's where the footwork comes into play. The experienced line has taken their exact correct steps to reach the line of scrimmage set to take on blocks. The Y-tight end is in good position to kick the SAM out of the hole, the right tackle has a shot to seal the 5-tech, the RG and C are, for the moment, doubling that nasty nose tackle. The left guard too has gotten playside of the 3-tech. The LT is giving a shove to the WDE before he releases; hopefully the U-tight end will be able to knock that dude back in a sec. The RB is receiving the handoff; the linebackers stay back respecting play-action.
3. Decision Time
The handoff has been made; the linebackers are activated. That Y-TE is kicking out the SAM, but the 5-tech is burrowing into the RT, able to threaten either side at the moment. The RG and C have finished their combo and the RG has left seeking to hit the MLB before he gets to the hole. The RB isn't looking at the backside cut yet; he sees a hole will open up to whichever side of the right tackle the 5-tech doesn't choose. The RB decelerates momentarily to let this play out, hoping the blocks hold.
4. Execution
The 5-tech flinches; he has to protect the "C" gap and trust the MLB and NT can close off the "B" gap. From here it's all on the players: how fast can the RB accelerate into the hole—fast enough that the 5-tech can't fight back, or the MLB arrive to fend off the RG's block? How well can the RT, RG, and C maintain those blocks and give the RB room to run top speed vs having to pick his way over the feet and asses of his linemen? What if the guard can devastate the MLB here, blocking him into the WLB's pursuit or even a closing safety? Being technically good gets you so far; having great athletes can make a huge difference in these little half-seconds.
5. Result
The RB hit the hole but the RG left the NT too late to really put a block on the MLB, and that guy makes an ankle tackle, with the RG falling on him in turn. Three yards for the offense. That nasty 330-lb. NT is a real troublemaker; every millisecond he was occupying the uncovered blocker, the MLB was still able to flow freely to the play.
Sample Play Two: Cutback
I'm showing you the defense on this one because the other team's D.C. is sick and tired of getting run on to the strong side all day. He's going to throw the offense for a loop by aligning in a 4-3 over and slanting the line to the frontside, and blitzing the SAM atop it all, with LBs protecting backside gaps in case there's a cutback.
1. Read Before the Snap.
The RT, LG and U-tight end are uncovered. By alignment, the defense is saying "please run your IZ on me—see I left you a huge "B" gap." That's what they want you to think. The simple IZ reads don't say "go here;" they say the RT has to check the 3-tech and the LG and U-TE can release, and the other guys have to block the guy covering him.
2. Footwork and Combo
The line takes its step playside and already the slanting DL are getting all up in their bear grylls. The RT's step gave him the 3-tech but nobody's got the blitzing SAM. The RG should realize at this point that he's the free man (the 3-tech started above him and never crossed his eyes) so he's gotta look for the MLB or NT, just as he did against the under. Will he see this? The C can't handle the NT alone. The LT is also unable to control the slanting WDE and the LG has already released downfield; he sees the WDE as he goes by but our LG has been at this a long time and knows there's nothing he can do about that guy anymore, while putting a hat on the MLB could do some good if things work out behind him.
Here's where IZ creates room for a high level of player awareness to create a big play even if the play itself wasn't designed to go there. The C can't get playside of that NT, but he can add a bit of a shove to the slanting NT's momentum. And the OT can do the same with the WDE. Heave ho.
3. Decision Time
The RG spent too long figuring out who to help and so tried to shove the 5-tech so the RT could deal with the SAM. Still, the frontside is a mess. The RB looks to the backside and sees the C and LT could do nothing but shove their defenders down the line. But the guard has picked off the MLB, and the U-tight end is about to impact the poor WLB. Time to roll the dice on the cutback.
4. Execution
This might work. The NT and WDE have been shoved down the line but getting outside the backside OT is still quite a directional shift (usually a cutback goes inside that). The offense's adjustment to the defense's curveball, especially the LG's thought to go downfield, gives them a shot. In other words, the defense guessed correct and yet they could still be punished for it, but there's still a big play to be made by the RB not not just see his hole but get there.
That RB had better be able to make a sharp cut and bounce outside before the WDE regains his balance and leaps upfield to cut him off. The LT can't help much more without getting a block in the back call. The LG impacted the MLB but now that guy's fighting to get off the block and close up the hole, and the WLB has accepted the impact and is bracing to squeeze down the gap; his main duty remains not letting the RB outside of him.
5. Result
Our RB made it. The linebackers have disengaged now and they'll try to close this down after 5 to 8 yards, depending on when the safety arrives. A really fast RB might be able to zip past all of them; a tank might be really hard to bring down with such a head of steam and while still fighting off a block.
One more; you can already guess where it's going.
Sample Play Three: Run Away!
1. Read Before the Snap.
Same 4-3 under formation as the first one. I showed the defense's gap assignments; Ohio State will show this quite often with their awesome DT and DEs. A two-gapping defensive lineman is a liability if he can't control the offensive lineman he's assigned to and a major asset for the defense if he is. Inside zone doesn't get rid of that dynamic but it does put pressure on guys like this since they can't overreact to the ball. Keeping the LBs heaving involved in the run game is crucial to keeping the middle clear for the passing game, and also crucial in finding space to run.
2. Footwork and Combo
Off the snap nothing is out of the ordinary. This feels like a base defense; again the result of the individual battles will determine where the RB goes. But the nose tackle is fighting past the center already, and the DL has all established themselves past the line of scrimmage. The OL has some work to do to not get overwhelmed.
3. Decision Time
The center and RG got the NT under control and back to his side of the line. The 3-tech's penetration delayed the LT's release. The 5-tech is fighting inside the right tackle, and the LBs are still inside, having just see the handoff and reacted. It's time to redirect off-tackle—that'll teach the 5-tech to try to work inside the tackle instead of playing gap football.
4. Execution
Seeing the bounce the defenders have begun to disengage and chase. The 5-tech is suddenly past the right tackle. If the RT can spin around and get a last kick the RB should be free to hit the hole provided by the Y-TE's good block, and that RB will need all the space he can get since the RG's occupation with the nose tackle (again!) allowed the MLB to get playside, and that dude's booking for the "C" gap. Who will get there first?
5. Result
The answer is nobody since the 5-tech made a fantastic play, leaping to bring down the running back before he could re-accelerate after his bounce. This is one of the main dangers of trying the outside route that every ball-carrier is naturally attracted to. In this case it was totally the right call, and the offense executed the play pretty okay, and the defense didn't cheat down or blitz and the defense stopped him for a 1-yard loss anyway because sometimes a guy just makes a play.
Final exam: what's Braden saying to A.J. Williams?