Zone Blocking

Part II: Footwork,

Blocking Schemes
Ken Wilmesherr
Offensive Line Coach
Grossmont College
kwilmesh@cox.net
 Inside and Outside Zone

W M S

E T N E

This power point is protected by copyright laws of the United States. Any unauthorized reproduction of this power point
without the expressed written consent of Ken Wilmesherr and Grossmont College is strictly prohibited. Copyright © 2006.
all rights reserved.
 ZONE
FOOTWORK
 FOOTWORK

The 1st step is a directional (position) step. The 2nd step is a

power step with the emphasis getting it on the ground as soon as
possible. I talk in terms of Position-Power.

The footwork for zone is different than most other offensive

plays. The tighter the down defenders alignment the tighter the
steps.

Offensive linemen will step simultaneously taking

either a 6-inch lateral jab step (set to drive directional step) or a
bucket step with an angle of departure at 45 degrees (set to
reach directional step) to the left or right when executing the
footwork for the zone play. All linemen need to maintain their
directional track.
 FOOTWORK
STEPS:

Covered steps for covered linemen on inside zone.

6-inch lateral jab step (set to drive).

Uncovered steps for uncovered linemen on inside zone.

Bucket step angle of departure 45 degrees (set to reach).

Steps for linemen on outside zone.

All linemen will bucket step (set to reach).

Driving your backside knee is crucial. We want to to take our

backside knee and drive it vertically through the defenders
crotch. We do this on both first and second level defenders.
UNCOVERED
STEPS
 UNCOVERED STEPS for
UNCOVERED LINEMEN
A wide defender (covered playside). An uncovered lineman in
the zone concept.

First step (position) is a bucket step (set to reach); the angle of

departure is 45 degrees. The angle of departure will not change,
but the depth of the bucket step will depending on the
alignment of the down defender. The hip will open at a 45 degree
angle to the sideline. The target will open the hip to a 45 degree
angle.

Second step (power) is a vertical step to and through the

defenders crotch (knee to and through the crotch). The speed of
the second step is so important.

Third step will square the offensive linemen up field.

 UNCOVERED STEPS for
UNCOVERED LINEMEN

UNCOVERED STEPS

We speak in terms of “losing ground to gain

ground” for uncovered linemen.
2 3

Losing ground to gain ground allows the uncovered

linemen to get on the proper angle to make the block.
Angle of departure 45 degrees

1
COVERED
STEPS
COVERED STEPS for COVERED
LINEMEN
First step (position) is a 6-inch lateral jab step (set to drive) with
the call side foot.

Second step (power) is a vertical step to and through the down

defenders crotch (knee to and through the crotch). The
lineman’s base will narrow slightly. It is important to get the
second step in the ground as soon as possible. The speed of the
second step is important.

Third step will square the offensive lineman up field. It is

important to keep the shoulders square.
COVERED STEPS for COVERED
LINEMEN
COVERED STEPS

3
2

6-inch lateral jab step

to gain width

1
FOOTWORK
OUTSIDE
ZONE
 FOOTWORK OUTSIDE ZONE
On outside zone all linemen will take uncovered steps.

First step (position) is a bucket step (set to reach). Angle of

departure is at a 45 degrees. The target will put lineman at a 45
degree angle.

Second step (power) is an outside reach step trying to step on

the outside toes of the defender.

Third step will square the offensive linemen.

Linemen are trying to rip the funnel. The funnel is the elbow,
ribs, and arm pit of the defender.
BUCKET, CROSS OVER, RIP.
 FOOTWORK OUTSIDE ZONE

FOOTWORK OUTSIDE ZONE

We speak in terms of “losing ground to gain

ground” for uncovered linemen.
2 3
Angle of departure 45 degrees

Losing ground to gain ground allows the uncovered

linemen to get on the proper angle to make the block.

1
TECHNIQUE,
CALLS for
UNCOVERED
LINEMEN
It is imperative that uncovered linemen understand the down
defenders alignment (inside technique, headed up, technique or
outside technique) on the playside or call side covered lineman.
W
vs. a 2i technique
E T

2i, 4i, 7 tech call, there is a greater chance (80%) the uncovered
linemen will end up blocking the inside shaded defender (inside
shaded alignment) unless the defender sparks or buffs.
 0, 2 ,4, 6 tech call, there is a half the chance (50%) the
uncovered lineman will end up blocking the head up
defender technique (head up alignment). The defender can
slant to either gap from a head up alignment.
W
E T vs. a 2 technique

3, 5, 9 tech call, there is a slight chance (20%) the uncovered

lineman will end up blocking the 3, 5, or 9 technique (outside shaded
alignment) unless the defender sparks or buffs.
W
E T vs. a 3 technique
 TECHNIQUE CALLS
DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT:

Buff: a stunt angled movement away from where the defender

is aligned.
T BUFF T

Slant: a stunt to a specific gap from a head up alignment.

T SLANT T
 TECHNIQUE CALLS
DEFENSIVE MOVMENT:

Spark: a stunt angled by a defensive lineman aiming at the

ear hole of the offensive lineman to his inside or outside.
T SPARK T
 THIN and
THICK CALLS
 THIN & THICK
Covered linemen will make a “thin” or “thick” calls. These
calls are determined by the LB’s alignment at depth. For
example, if the defensive structure is a 4-3, the center will
make a defensive recognition call to alert the entire
line. The backside guard will then make a co-op call to alert
the backside tackle. The covered lineman will make a “thick” or
“thin” call at the L.O.S..

W W
E T E T

“THIN” “THICK”
 THICK
“Thick” call the backside tackle and guard are blocking the 2
or 3 techniques to the WILL LB (4i at depth), the WILL is
thick on the 2 or 3 techniques (the WILL is stacked on the
END or in the C gap on the backside) the backside guard
will hang getting vertical push on the down defender (1st
level defender) creating a double team until the WILL LB
commits.

WILL LB is thick
W

E T

BST & BSG “Thick Call”

 THIN
“Thin” call the WILL LB (3 technique at depth) is splitting
the crotch or stacked over the 2 or 3 technique, the guard
will make a thin call to alert the tackle that he will not hang
on the 1st level defender. The footwork will also change
on a thin call the guard will take uncovered steps.

WILL LB is Thin MIKE LB is Thick

W M

E T T

BST & BSG “Thin Call”/ C & PSG “Thick Call”

 THIN & THICK
If the linebacker is aligned over the call side linemen he will
make a thin call to alert the backside lineman he will have very
little to no help on the down defender. Both linemen will execute a
bucket (set to reach) step aiming for the call side shoulders of the
defenders.

If the linebacker is aligned over the backside lineman the call

side lineman will make a thick call and hang on the down defender
one arm benching, maintaining pressure and inside leverage as both
linemen work to the second level defender.
CO-OPS
 CO-OPS
Co-ops in the zone concept are defined as two or more
adjacent linemen working together on a down defender on level one to
a second defender on level two.

There are playside and backside co-ops.

The line calls start from the call side out and working in to the
backside.

Thin and thick calls are made depending on the alignment of

the second level defender.
BACKSIDE
CO-OPS
 CO-OPS
BACKSIDE CO-OPS:

Slug: Backside TE and Backside Tackle.

Buzz: Backside TE and Backside Tackle working to a Safety
on the second level.
Swap: Backside Tackle and Backside Guard.
Scoop: Backside Guard and Center.
Solid: Backside TE, Backside Tackle and Backside Guard.
Trip: Backside Tackle, Backside Guard and Center.
 Backside co-op between the Backside TE and the
Backside Tackle. Slug Call.
W
E
SLUG

Backside co-op between the Backside TE and the Backside

Tackle working to a Safety on the second level. Buzz Call.

SS
W E BUZZ
 Backside co-op between the Backside Tackle and the
Backside Guard. Swap Call.
W
E T
SWAP

Backside co-op between the Backside Guard and the Center.

Scoop Call.

M
N SCOOP
Backside co-op between the Backside TE, Backside Tackle
and the Backside Guard. Solid Call.
M
W E T
SOLID

Backside co-op between the Backside Tackle, Backside Guard

and the Center. Trip Call.

W
E T N TRIP
PLAYSIDE
CO-OPS
 CO-OPS
PLAYSIDE CO-OPS:

Single: Center and Playside Guard.

Double: Playside Guard and Playside Tackle.
Triple: Playside Tackle and Playside TE.
Gang: Backside Tackle, Backside Guard, Center, and Playside
Guard.
Trio: Playside Guard, Center, and Backside Guard.
Triplet: Playside Guard, Playside Tackle, and Playside TE.
 Playside co-op between the Center and the Playside Guard.
Single Call.
M
T
SINGLE

Playside co-op between the Playside Guard and the Playside

Tackle. Double Call.

M
N E DOUBLE
 Playside co-op between the Playside Tackle and the
Playside TE. Triple Call.
S
T E
TRIPLE

Playside co-op between the Backside Tackle, Backside

Guard, Center, and Playside Guard. Gang Call.

M
T N T GANG
 Playside co-op between the Backside Guard, Center, and
Playside Guard. Trio Call.
M
N T TRIO

Playside co-op between the Playside Guard, Playside Tackle,

and the Playside TE. Triplet Call.

M
N E S TRIPLET
 ZONE
SCHEMES
 SCHEME

Scheme is defined as a
combination of blocks in
either the running game or
passing game.
WEAK INSIDE
ZONE vs. 5-3
 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
TE: Set to Reach; (Buzz call) with the Tackle

SST: Set to Drive; “Thick” (Buzz call) with TE

SSG: Set to Drive; (Scoop call) with Center

C: Set to Reach; “Thick” (Scoop call) with SSG

BSG: Set to Drive; maintain inside leverage

BST: Set to Drive; maintain inside leverage

 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
W M SS

E T N T S
 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
W M SS

E T N T S
 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
W M SS

E T N T S
 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
W M SS

E T N T S
 WEAK INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 5-3
W M SS
SCOOP BUZZ

E T N T S
 OUTSIDE
ZONE vs. 4-3
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
TE: Set to Reach; (Triple call) with the Tackle

SST: Set to Reach; (Triple call) with TE

SSG: Set to Reach; (Single call) with Center

C: Set to Reach; (Single call) with SSG

BSG: Set to Reach; (Swap call) with BST

BST: Set to Reach; (Swap call) with BSG

 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S
SWAP SINGLE TRIPLE

E T T E
INSIDE ZONE
vs. 4-3
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
TE: Set to Drive; “Thick” (Triple call) with the Tackle

SST: Set to Reach; (Triple call) with TE

SSG: Set to Drive; “Thick” (Single call) with Center

C: Set to Reach; (Single call) with SSG

BSG: Set to Drive; “Thick” (Swap call) with BST

BST: Set to Reach; (Swap call) with BSG

 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S

E T T E
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. 4-3
W M S
SWAP SINGLE TRIPLE

E T T E
 OUTSIDE
ZONE vs.
EAGLE WEAK
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
TE: Set to Reach; Maintain inside leverage, possible Triplet
with Tackle and Guard

SST: Set to Reach; Maintain inside leverage, possible Triplet

with TE and Guard or possible Double with Guard

SSG: Set to Reach; possible Triplet with TE and Tackle or

possible Double with Tackle

C: Set to Reach; (Scoop call) with BSG

BSG: Set to Reach; (Scoop call) with Center

BST: Cut the 3 technique

 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 OUTSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
INSIDE ZONE
vs. EAGLE
WEAK
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
TE: Set to Drive; Maintain inside leverage

SST: Set to Drive; Maintain inside leverage, possible double

with SSG

SSG: Set to Drive; “Thin” (Single call) with Center, or

possible Double with SST
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak Cont.
C: Set to Reach; (Single call) with SSG or a possible Trip call
with the BSG and BST

BSG: Set to Reach; “Thin” (Swap call) with Tackle or a

possible Trip call with Center and BST

BST: Set to Reach; (Swap call) with BSG or a Trip call with
the Center and BSG
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
 INSIDE ZONE
Vs. Eagle Weak
W M

E T N E S
CONTACT INFORMATION

Copyright © 2006, Ken Wilmesherr and Grossmont College.

All rights reserved