FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Adam Sayer]

Yes I did. Wonderful clinic and I learned a lot about the zone scheme, inside and out. I'll probably attend again next year and though I didn't really have the money to go, it was the best $70 I spent. I'd like to attend a bunch more when I get a teaching job (praying for the Sycamore thing to work out).

[Adam Sayer]

Just call me Adam or by my last name. It's weird for me. I'm still getting used to the kids I teach calling me Mr. Sayer.

Dig that stuff out, we need some fresh discussion material.

[M and L]

Sayer:

I plan on being there unless something else I made a commitment to something else.

[victorybell_57]

the one theory i have heard on zone is that you need some big boys up front. the other theory i have heard is that you can have smaller guys due to the double teams. two guys tha tweigh 250=500 and can move a 2 technique.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

When I was a player at Adrian we had great success with some big guys that could move, our lightest OL was about 255,other than that we were 300, 290, 295 and about 280.  The key I think with the big guys is if they can move, that is the key in zone schemes, you cant have a 320 pounder that is not agile.  When you can combine the two, you will see great results.  We have also had some success with smaller lineman once I began coaching, we had an OL then with two interior players who were both about 250, but very short, both about 5'9.  Obviously playing a man scheme with lineman like that would have exposed them when we asked them to block a one technique or a shade, but by using the zone and the covered uncovered concept we were able to take care of most problems.  Again, I need to get into my storage unit, I forgot to pay the bill on time so there is a seperate lock on it and I will get my notes and scheme concepts out. 

[Adam Sayer]

Our O-line at MSJ my senior year:
LT - 6'4" - 285
LG - 6'2" - 260
C - 6'0" - 240
RG - 5'11" - 275 (this would be me)
RT - 6'4" - 245

Against Franklin our LG was injured (broken collar bone) and we moved our center to LG and brought in our back up center who was 5'11" 190. I injured my ankle during the 2nd quarter and the guard who came in for me was 5'10" 215. We were never big. During the 4 years I was at MSJ our heaviest starting O-lineman was never over 285 pounds.

That year we finished with just under 2,000 yards rushing and our primary run was the zone.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

The afformentioned 295 was me.  Playing center at that big and actually being faster and quicker as well as stronger than when I came gave us a big boost.  Obviously center is usually one of the smaller positions as it can be hidden by the two guards.  We also at Adrian were the first school in our area, or that I really remember seeing making a habit out of pulling the center.  Sounds like im tooting my horn, but from a coaching prespective, it creates great matchups and is usually unexpected as most LB's read guards.  IT also gave good options for down blocks with ones, shades and tilts(which we saw from Defiance).

Like I said though, bigger isnt always better and we had some very large lineman who were not great zone blockers.  I think the premium position for recruiting at DIII is the Oline as I know from the past three years of recruiting that it seems any of the lineman who have size and any ability get snatched up by the DII's, at least that seems to be the case in michigan.

[victorybell_57]

didn't adrian run a lot of zone off some crazy motions a few years back? that michigan league has to be have a lot parody in it with high flying spread teams, and some teams that are grinders.

has anybody seen the water test where they come to your house and test all your water compared to regular water and show you how bad it is? then you can finance a water purifier that sits in your yard for 6k? i just had to make this guy leave. i don't have 6k to spend on a purifier when i have 6k in other things that i can do just as quickly. i would rather buy 6k in porno than on water. that guy on man vs. wild drinks water squeezed from elephant dung and he is ok, i think i'll be fine drinking tap water. 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

yes, we ran alot of stuff off of jet motion with great success.  My senior year, we ran a 8 minute opening drive against Franklin using two plays, one the jet sweep and the other was jet motion with an izzy.  It was a great drive, we ended up fumbling so we didnt even score, but we did win 48-10 or 13 I cant remember.  I have my old jet series stuff as well if theres any interest in that.

[M and L]

From an offensive linemen stands point, what foot work/steeps should be used to block the zone up front.  I hear everything from tacking a big reach step, 45 degree angel step and running on the train tracks, and then using a combo block.

Sayer what do you thing works best?

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Are you talking inside or outside?

[M and L]

inside, RB is reading the inside check of the gaurd

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

On the inside zone the way we ran it adrian we took a very short almost gap step.  If it was a zone scheme between the center and right guard on a 1 technique it would work as follows.  Lets say we are working against a 4-3 defense and we have a tightend lined up to the formation(right).  we would have 3 double teams out of this formation working stacks to the LB's.  The stack we are concentrating on here is the 1 technique and the middle linebacker.  We preached the rule of covered uncovered in this case, the guard is covered and center is uncovered.  Our right guards first step would be with his right foot which is almost a pick it up and put it down step and at the same time our center would be stepping with the right foot as well.  We take the pick it up and put it down step to prevent being beat across our face even though the power for the block will be coming from our back step.  The second step from our right guard would be from his left foot and the aim would be to drive his knee, hips and forearm (we called it a flipper) through the 1 techniques outside shoulder.We rip through with the left arm of the guard so that we can straighten the 1 technique out and give the center a better chance to take over and drive.  Our landmarks on this play for both lineman are the outside number to the shoulder that is where the center and guard are both aiming.  We rip through with the left arm of the guard so that we can straighten the 1 technique out and give the center a better chance to take over and drive.  At this point the center has also stepped in the same manner(no forearm rip) and is now working half the body of the 1 technique.  At this point the key to the block is keeping hip to hip and butt to butt, not allowing a seam for the tackle to split the double team.  We then have both lineman keep their eyes focused on the LB and the RB is responsible for setting up the block on the second level.  If the LB flows to the offenses right, the right guard scrapes off and the center takes the block over and vis versa.  I hope that offers some insight and makes sesne, its the first time I have type it out on a forum to explain.  Sayer and all others, let me know if you can offer any critique on this. 

The other two combos consist of the same blocking scheme and steps between our TE and RT working from the RE to the ROLB and the LG and LT working their stack from the 3 technique  to the backside LB.  Our QB was responsible for holding the DE as he had the option of if the DE closed down the line hard to keep the ball on an option and run around the end which was a suprisingly effective way of eliminating the end by making him respect the QB run as a possiblity, we also saw some long runs out of QB's that werent exactly fleet a foot.  The aim of the zone for us was to press the cheek of the right guard so that we could develop a cut back line where we would have everyone covered, it worked for us quite well even when we didnt have the best lineman.  Like I said let me know if this makes sense and im interested to hear how other teams run it as well. 

As a further note for the above scheme the pick it up put it down step also gives us the ability to adjust to movement from the front 4.  If we were to take an aggresive 45 degree step our right guard would find himself out of position on a twist or games between the DE and DT.  By taking that pick up put down step, we have time to react so that if our landmark(number to shoulder) dissapears we proceed up through our progression and take the next man to enter our zone.

[Adam Sayer]

You may have made a mistake IDing linemen. If your strength is right, wouldn't the LG and Center be working the 1-tech/MBL stack? You started off by explaining the blocking scheme as such but then said the RG and Center. The RG and RT would be working the 3-Tech/SLB stack in a traditional 4-3 with TE right.

That's pretty much the gist of what I would say. I'll add some later but gotta work out and run.

[victorybell_57]

i have an interest in your stuff, email me at victorybell_57@yahoo.com

inside zone involves reading the first down man past the center. you generally take a track to the inside butt of the pst tackle. if there is color in the gap you cut back. if there is no color, honk it up in there. double teams and numbering lb's still escapes me.