The inside zone concept operates on the principal of the linemen being covered by a defensive lineman or being uncovered. The primary concern is getting horizontal or vertical movement on the down linemen.
If the lineman has a defensive lineman on him he will execute what is referred to as a stretch-base block. With a defender that is head up or on the play side shoulder, the first step is a short four to six inch lateral step to the call. Here the lineman is trying to invite movement.
The second step is directed toward the middle of the defender’s body cylinder. Once the first two steps are taken, he is ready to strike with fists and drive the defender in the direction of his movement and finish with a rip technique when the defender attempts to separate.
The uncovered lineman will also execute a stretch step, however, rather than going laterally, he will step down at the defender covering his play side teammate. By stepping at the defender, he is able to stop a slant, enabling the covered teammate to re-direct and help get push on the defender.
The second step by the uncovered lineman is directed at an imaginary point directly behind the near foot of the defensive lineman prior to the snap. If the uncovered lineman executes the first two steps properly, his head should be on the up-field side of the defender. If the defender plays straight ahead, a double team should occur between the two offensive linemen.
It is imperative the covered linemen and the uncovered linemen keep their shoulders square (do not get turned), if they do not, the defensive lineman will be able to split the block:
The stretch base step by the covered linemen is important because he has to be on the proper angle to block the down defender, making sure he is not stepping underneath himself which will allow for him to get the hips and shoulders turned, losing power and balance. This allows the defender to possibly split the block. It is also important that the covered linemen and uncovered linemen maintain a hip-to-hip relationship on contact, which will not allow the down defender to split the block.
Both linemen should punch upwards on the down defenders breast plates, trying to get lift (hit on the rise). The covered linemen will punch the breast plate of the down defender with his inside hand keeping his outside hand free. The uncovered linemen will punch the breast plate of the down defender with his outside hand keeping the inside hand free for the linebacker run through.
The second-level defender, typically a linebacker, is technically the responsibility of the uncovered lineman and can do one of three things. He can plug, hang, or scrape over the top. Both offensive linemen will get vertical push on the down defender until the linebacker commits. If the linebacker plugs, it turns into an inside-out combo block. If the linebacker scrapes over the top, it turns into a slip block, and, if the linebacker hangs, the linemen get push on the down defender until the linebacker commits. It is imperative when linemen are performing the combo block to stay on the proper blocking angle until they reach the depth of the linebacker.
Because of the rolling action of the running back, the linebackers normally flow to the call, the uncovered lineman can then bounce off late and get the linebacker on the rebound, allowing the cutback by the ball carrier.
The covered and uncovered theory holds true for everyone on the line of scrimmage except the backside tackle. The backside tackle will execute a stretch double with the backside guard if the guard is covered.
If side by side linemen on the play side are both covered, then the lineman to the play side is executing a stretch base block on his own.
If the play side guard, tackle or tight end has a down defender lined up on the inside shade, get after him immediately, stepping with the inside foot. It should be assumed he is already in a slant position so there is no need to try and stretch him.
Identifying Fronts
Front identification is critical to the linemen and tight ends to understand which defender they are working to in the defensive set.
Even Front
An even front presents with four down linemen, where there is no true Mike linebacker, you could call it a 4-4 or a split four look.
Even front rules tell the tight end he is working out of the box, and would work to the strong safety or outside linebacker in this look. The tackle will work the first down lineman outside of him. The center and guard will combination block and work up to the linebacker. The backside guard is covered so he and the back side tackle will combination block up to the linebacker, and the back side tight end will work a cutoff block. The quarterback will control the Will with the threat of a naked bootleg or shotgun read.
If you remove the tight ends, the defense has to adjust accordingly by widening. The blocking remains the same in the core. The only change is the quarterback now controls the backside defensive end with the threat of the naked bootleg or shotgun read.
Even Stack Front:
Here again you still have the four down linemen, but now you have a true Mike linebacker. The difference between the even and even stack front is now the tight end and tackle combination is staying in the box and will work to the front side linebacker. The center will work a combination block with the play side guard to the Mike linebacker. Again, the back side guard is covered so he and the back side tackle will work a combination block to the backside linebacker and the tight end will have a cutoff block on the backside end. Against this alignment with two tight ends you do not have a backside defender to control with the naked bootleg or read, but the quarterback will still show the same action. If the formation was spread the quarterback would hold the backside defensive end with the bootleg or read.
Odd Front:
Against this front you have side by side linemen who are both covered, so in this case the tight end work a reach block against the Sam linebacker. The play side tackle and guard will combination block up to the Mike linebacker. The center and back side guard will work a back side scoop combination to the back side linebacker. Then depending on weather the safety is down or not, the back side tackle and tight end will either lock-on or if the safety does show in the box they will work a back side slip block and work up to the safety.
Again if you remove the tight ends the defense must adjust to the spread look by widening, it’s still the same in the core and now you control the backside end with the quarterback with the threat of a naked or shotgun read off of the zone.
Odd Stack Front:
Again with side by side linemen covered to the play side the linemen, in this case a tight end, will work a reach block outside the box. The play side tackle and guard combination will work to the front side linebacker. The center and back side guard will work a combination back side scoop block to the Mike linebacker and the back side tackle and tight end combination will work a back side slip block as well to the back side linebacker. The back side safety will then be controlled by the naked bootleg or shotgun read action by the quarterback.
Again, if you spread the defense out by widening the tight ends, the core stays the same for the linemen and we are now controlling the backside end with the quarterback.
Next I will cover what the inside zone looks like in NCAA 11.
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