Using the Full Reach Zone Scheme

The first play I am going to cover using the full reach concept if the toss sweep. Currently in the game the toss sweep is blocked using the G-scheme which is where the play side guard pulls and blocks the force man from the secondary. The Mike linebacker in an even stack front poses the biggest problem to the G-scheme.


If running against an odd front the G-scheme would be the best. The guard would block the force and the fullback would be responsible for the front side linebacker.


However, rather than trying to block the toss sweep more than one way, the outside zone concept will work for almost any front.

The fullback aims at the butt of the play side tight end, thinking to block a sky box secondary support man if there is a defender in that position.


If running the play into a shade even stack defense, the fullback will read the block of the tight end. If the man the tight end is blocking widens to the sideline, the fullback stays under the tight end’s block and is conscious of the play side linebacker.


Versus the even stack front, the play side tackle will pull two steps, check to help the tight end, clear a front side linebacker plug, then turn to seal the Mike linebacker.

If running against an even front steadily, you can also use motion to account for the secondary force.


When playing against a reduced front, the pitch to the split end side is effective. Normally, on the split end side of a reduced defense, the secondary support is not the factor it is going to the strength of the formation.


Here you see an under front with the defense aligned with a 3- and 5-technique.


Here you see an even stack front with the defense aligned with a 1- and 5-technique.

If pitch is called to the split end side of the formation and the defense gives an unfavorable look, the play is merely checked to the opposite side.


Do not try to force the pitch outside. The tight end will attempt to hook the defensive end, but if he flows hard, the ball carrier will make the play an off-tackle run. The path of the ball carrier is a downhill angle at the butt of the tight end. This path tends to put the defensive end in a tough situation.

If the defensive end over-commits to the outside, the ball carrier cuts underneath him. If the defensive end sets tough and tries to defend the off-tackle hole, the ball carrier has the option of bouncing the play outside.

If the defense shows a two man principle on the tight end, the tight end and tackle will fan block, forcing the underneath running lane.


Should the play side guard have a defender aligned on the play side shoulder, he has the option of scramble blocking him to cut off the defenders flow. If he is going to scramble the wide aligned defender, he alerts the center. The center will protect for a slant, and if no slant, the center will pull around for the linebacker.


A play that complements the pitch play is the outside play. The ball carrier is going to take a path approximately 2 yards outside the original alignment of the tight end. This play can be run from a one-back or two-back formation. If run from a two-back set, the fullback becomes an extra blocker in many instances.

Just like with the stretch play the ball carrier must get to the point of attack before he makes the decision to stay outside or cut underneath the tight ends block. The tight end executes a rip-reach block, thinking to escape for the linebacker, providing that the play side tackle is uncovered. If the tackle is uncovered, the tackle will execute a pull and overtake block.


If the tackle and tight end are both covered, the tight end will rip-reach and lean hard on his man, not expecting help from the tackle.


When changing the play at the line of scrimmage the quarterback will look to the defensive front to determine directionality.


If the defense chooses to play the set in a balanced front, but plays three deep in the secondary, the quarterback will check away from the secondary support.


The objective of the scheme is to create creases in much the same way as inside zone, only the offense is stretching the defense at a more rapid rate, because of the path of the ball carrier.

The combination of the inside and outside zone blocking schemes puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the linebackers. Over pursuing either play creates some big cutback lanes.

Using the pitch play and the outside stretch play makes it very difficult for the defense to guess correctly due to the rip-reach and pull and overtake techniques on both plays. If the defense chooses to stretch wide with the rip-reach there will be more pitches called. The opposite is true if they allow the linemen to hook them.

The Jet Sweep and what’s called run throws are other plays that can be run utilizing the full reach zone scheme.

The Jet Sweep is a hand sweep to a wide receiver going full speed using the full reach outside zone scheme with the outside receivers stalk blocking.


Here the line is blocking full reach outside zone and on the outside #1 executes a stalk block on #1 and #2 does the same on #2. You are able to get an extra blocker with the tailback out of the 2x2 set. The receiver comes in motion, the ball is snapped and handed off, here he will want to use option type concepts in getting to the hash, the numbers and then to the sideline and run away from the box of the defense and utilize speed.

The tailback acts as a personal protector on the sweep. If the line is unable to get up to the play side linebacker and cut him off, the tailback would pick him up. If the line is able to reach the linebacker but there wasn’t a good block on the strong safety, he would clean up that block. Finally he would be responsible for the free safety running the alley. He will basically block the most dangerous defender.


Here from an empty set everything remains the same, the only change is the #3 receiver now level blocks from the play side linebacker to the free safety if there is no one aligned over the top of him.

You can also utilize a crack scheme by running the Jet Sweep towards two standup receivers. The #2 receiver would crack the first defender inside and the tailback would lead and block the force defender.


The key to the crack block is if the key defender is not looking the crack blocker should explode through the up field shoulder of the defender. If the defender sees the crack blocker coming towards him the crack blocker should wall him off and block his up field shoulder. If the crack blocker is unable to maintain the block he must force the defender to go underneath the block.

You can also use the full reach outside zone scheme in the screen game.


Here you see what’s referred to as the Fast screen, the offensive line blocks full reach outside zone and the #1 receiver takes one step up, one step back and turns square to the quarterback. The #2 receiver arc blocks the #1 defender and the #1 receiver will get up field and out run the cover down defender. The quarterback will take an open step then throw outside as quickly as he can.

If when #2 releases on an arc block to the #1 defender and the #2 defender becomes the biggest threat he must block him, never pass one to block one.


Fast can also be run towards one standup receiver.


Again the #2 receiver is responsible for the arc block on the #1 defender. The halfback will come outside and kick out the cornerback. The offensive line runs and reaches on the box defenders.


Here you see a tight end aligned in a wing position with the halfback to his side. Again the #2 receiver is responsible for the #1 defender and the #3 receiver will be responsible for the first linebacker inside. The tight end is the #2 receiver and will come down the line, gain leverage on the cornerback and kick him out. The halfback will come down the line as well and seal the first inside linebacker to the inside.


Here is another example of three receivers to a side by way of motion. The #2 receiver arc blocks on the #1 defender and the #3 receiver arc blocks on the first linebacker inside, the #1 receiver takes one step up and one step back, catches the ball and gets up field running away from the unblocked defender which in this case is the free safety.

Another run throw that utilizes the full reach outside zone scheme is the crack screen.


Here the #1 receiver’s rule is to crack block the defender over #2 or the first defender inside off the line of scrimmage, just like with the Jet Sweep he must block the up field shoulder of the defender either by exploding through the defender or walling him off. The #2 receiver will backup at a 45 degree angle on a kickback route, receive the ball and make sure the #3 receiver is in front of him on his arc block to the #1 defender. The offensive line executes the full reach outside zone scheme.


Here again you see the same basic concept, however now the #2 receiver is executing the arc block and the halfback or the #3 receiver executing a swing route.


Here again you have the same concept with a three over three look with the #3 receiver running the swing route.

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