Here I will cover the inside zone run against the odd front.
Ace Normal
Play 1:
On the front side of this play the blocking looks pretty good. The tight end blocks man on against the outside linebacker and the play side tackle and guard work a zone combo on the defensive end, the correct blocker comes off the combo as the strong inside linebacker comes over the top. The backside is where we start to see some problems. The center blocks the nose guard however it never looked as though the back side guard never looked to work a scoop block with the center and ended up releasing vertically on the weak side inside linebacker. The back side tackle blocked man on the back side defensive end and the tight end released to the weak outside linebacker. If these two would have worked the correct assignment on the weak side defensive end the tackle would have come off on the weak inside linebacker and the tight end would have ended up on the weak defensive end. The weak outside linebacker would have been controlled by the roll out by the quarterback.
Play 2:
The front side of the line blocked just like in play one, however the guard after tackling a zone step never attached to the defensive end then released to the strong inside linebacker. There was no vertical movement by the defensive end but because he was slanting inside the tackle was able to widen the hole. The center and backside guard work the correct zone combo and the center does release for the back side inside linebacker but there was too much trash inside and he could not reach him which allowed the backside inside linebacker to make a play on the ball. The back side tackle and tight end worked a man on block on both of their defenders. The most concerning part is that the cornerback was the one who made initial contact with the running back meaning the WR completely missed his block.
Play 3:
Again initially the blocking looks pretty solid, the play side guard again wasn't able to attach to the defensive end on the guard/tackle combo block and released vertically and picked up the correct defender and made a block. The center and backside guard combo block looked good as they both looked to work a zone combo but the nose slanted play side so the back side guard released vertical on the back side inside linebacker as he should. The center gets beat by the nose because he wasn't playing with play side leverage and then gives a cut block animation which I don't really care for. On the back side the tackle and tight end once again block man on their defenders. The play resulted in a small gain due to the strong safety being in the box which resulted in four blockers on five defenders so I am okay with the outcome as there were no blockers to account for him and in real life you would check out of this play when faced with that situation.
Play 4:
Again the blocking remains much the same as the previous plays. The strong safety comes down into the box late and is unaccounted for in the blocking scheme which is fine. The tight end blocks out on the outside linebacker as he should. The play side guard and tackle work a zone combo on the defensive end as they should. I'd like to see that defensive end hang in there longer and read the play before dropping back into coverage. The play side guard eventually ends up picking up the strong inside linebacker. What should've happened here is the strong safety should have had a free run through the C-gap but he starts to loop outside the tight end before coming back through the C-gap, so technically this play should have gone for a loss and I would have been fine with that. The center and back side guard work a correct scoop block and the weak inside linebacker is picked up by the center. On the back side the tackle and tight end block man on. If they would have worked a back side scoop block the back side tackle would have been able to come off on the free safety that ended up making the tackle.
Play 5:
Here the blocking is good from the tight end to the back side guard. The tight end works man on against the outside linebacker who eventually ends up beating him and making a tackle. The play side tackle and guard work a zone combo block but get caught in the "make a pile" animation (please add an animation where one blocker can come off) leaving the strong side inside linebacker unblocked. The center and back side guard work a scoop block and the center makes a block on the correct defender. The back side tackle and tight end again work man on against their defenders.
Ace Slot
Play 1:
Initially the blocking looks good front side, the tight end blocks man on the outside linebacker and the guard and tackle work a zone combo block. The center\guard scoop block never materialized as the back side guard released vertically to the second level and the back side tackle blocked man on against the backside defensive end instead of releasing vertically to the inside. As we progress through the play more problems pop up. The strong inside linebacker played over the top of top and the wrong blocker (play side guard) comes off to block him. On the center\back side guard combo the guard attaches late which keeps the center on the block to long allowing the back side inside linebacker to come unblocked and make a tackle.
Play 2:
Front side blocking again looks good, the tight end picked up the outside linebacker and the play side tackle and guard zone combo got really good vertical movement and deposited the defensive end in the linebackers lap before the tackle comes off to the linebacker. The center and back side guard did a really good job of getting vertical movement as well, however the wrong blocker comes off the combo. The back side tackle again blocked man on against the defensive end.
Play 3:
This play is blocked really well. I'd like to see the back side tackle release vertically inside however. Initially the tight end blocks the outside linebacker, the tackle/guard zone combo doesn't get a lot of vertical movement but the correct player comes off on the linebacker. The center/back side guard scoop block played out really well and both defenders were picked up as they should. What made this a big gain was the outside linebacker rushing outside opening up the C-gap (I'll get into this in a later article).
Play 4:
This play was blocked well, the tight end blocked man on against the outside linebacker, and the play side tackle blocked man on against the defensive end as he should with the play side guard covered by the strong inside linebacker who the guard blocked man on. The center/ back side guard scoop block didn't happen and as a consequence the backside inside linebacker was unaccounted for due to the back side guard being unable to reach him. The back side tackle blocked man on against the defensive end. This play popped because the back side inside linebacker pursued the ball incorrectly and turned what could have been a 3 or 4 yard gain into a 10 yard gain.
Play 5:
The tight end and play side tackle block man on and the play side tackle blocks man on. The play side guard immediately releases to the linebacker who is blitzing again bringing up the question of the psychic line. The center/back side scoop block never happened allowing the linebacker to come over the top as the back side guard didn't have an angle on him and the back side tackle blocked man on against the defensive end.
I-Formation Normal
Play 1:
Initial movement on the front side looks good. We talked about this previously but the defense has brought the strong safety down into the box which creates a four blocker on five defenders advantage for the defense against a one back offense, however with the fullback in the backfield you can now account for the strong safety. The tight end blocks man on against the outside linebacker and the tackle/guard zone combo plays out as it should as they were able to get vertical movement and the correct blocker comes off with the linebacker trailing the ball carrier. The full back is responsible for the safety and he runs right past him before turning around and coming back to pick him up. The center blocks man on against the nose and the back side guard releases immediately to the blitzing linebacker again showing off the psychic line. The back side tackle carries out the correct assignment in blocking man on against the defensive tackle with the weak outside linebacker inside the box. The weak outside linebacker is not controlled by the quarterback as there was no roll out and because of this he is able to make the tackle when there should have been a good cutback lane for the running back.
Play 2:
Again there is a safety up in the box and this time the fullback works to the outside to pick him up. The tight end blocks man on against the defensive end. The play side tackle blocks man on against the defensive end as the play side guard released immediately to the blitzing linebacker. The center gets beat immediately due to not playing with play side leverage so it’s hard to tell if there would have been a scoop block executed. No one ends up blocking the back side inside linebacker who scrapes over the top to make the tackle. The back side tackle again makes the correct block by working man on against the defensive end.
Play 3:
Here there is no safety in the box so the full back becomes an extra blocker against this defense. The initial movement by the front side of the line looks good as the tight end blocks man on against the defensive end, the play side tackle blocks on the defensive end and the play side guard takes a zone step towards the defensive end but then recognizes the strong inside linebacker blitzing, turns to make a block and whiffs, here he should stick his foot in the ground and attack the plugging linebacker from outside in. The fullback which should have led straight through the open hole ends up stopping in the hole to make a block on the linebacker the guard missed. The center/guard scoop block never happens again allowing the backside inside linebacker to scrape over the top and eventually making a play on the ball. The back side guard was able to attach to the nose late in the play due to suction and the center releases. The back side tackle works a man on block against the defensive end.
Play 4:
Again here the safety is not in the box so the full back becomes an extra blocker. Again the initial movement by the front side of the line looks good, the tight end blocks man on against the outside linebacker and the play side tackle and guard work a zone combo block, however the wrong blocker comes off on the linebacker.. The center and back side guard do not work a scoop block. Here the back side linebacker was plugging the B-gap, if he wants to run himself out of the play, let him and work the scoop. The back side tackle blocks man on against the defensive end. The fullback should have led the running back up field but gets distracted by defenders that wouldn't have made a play.
Play 5:
Here the strong safety comes down into the box and is the responsibility of the fullback. The initial movement again looks good, the tight end blocks man on against the outside linebacker and the play side tackle/guard zone combo generates movement and the correct blocker comes off on the linebacker. Again the center/back side guard scoop block doesn't happen as the guard releases vertically for the blitzing linebacker and the back side tackle blocks man on against the defensive end.
Read and Read Option:
Play 1:
On the front side the tackle/guard zone combo works up to the inside linebacker and the correct blocker comes off. The center/back side guard scoop block didn't happen but the guard was able to pick up the block on the linebacker. You'd like to see the back side tackle release vertically inside giving he quarterback something closer to the ball to read. The outside linebacker on the slot receiver is not a good read.
Play 2:
Here the play side tackle/guard block looks to initially happen but the guard never attaches, with the linebacker plugging the A-gap the guard was unable to stick his foot in the ground and attack the linebacker from outside in. The center/back side guard scoop block didn't happen as the guard releases vertical. The back side tackle blocks man on against the defensive end, again you'd like to see him release vertically to the inside allowing the quarterback to read the defensive end.
Play 3 (Read Option):
Just as with the Read the tackle/guard combo works up to the linebacker with the correct blocker coming off on the linebacker. The center/back side scoop doesn't happen, but the guard was able to get the block on the back side linebacker. The back side tackle again should release vertically to the inside.
Play 4 (Read Option):
Plays out the same as play three, but with the linebackers plugging the A-gap the nose was able to defeat his block and make the tackle.
Play 5 (Read Option):
Here with the strong side linebacker in the box the tackle makes the correct read and blocks him man on, the play side guard blocks man on against the defensive end. Here is where the missing scoop block creates a problem as the strong side inside linebacker is plugging the A-gap and there is no blocker to pick him up allowing a tackle in the backfield. The back side tackle again should release vertically to the inside.
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