How to defend Zone Blocking

[da hawaiian]

The zone blocking scheme made famous by the Denver Broncos, how would you defend it?

[t-long20]

Ask the New York Giants d-line.

[KT2000]

The top characteristic I'd want from my defensive front is power. If you are strong enough to dictate to a zone blocking OL physically, it makes it extremely tough to open any seams. I know general objectives of a zone blocking line are to simply calls no matter the front, and also to move a front laterally first and then attack downhill.

If you have the power as a defense to get into the blockers and get them out of their paths and off-schedule, then I think you gain a tremendous advantage. I think you to be attack-minded and physical as a defense versus a good zone scheme.

I know one of the reasons zone blocking was created in the first place was to better handle slants, twists, etc. from the DL, but I think those moves can catch a zone OL flat footed on snap with the proper quickness/timing and bust a play up before it really starts.

[da hawaiian]

Wow KT, you da man.

I basically had the same things to add but you did it with so much brevity. And the use of the word "power" was extremely enlightening.

[KT2000]

Here is a good article on a pre-snap strategy defenses can use versus a zone scheme (or any other offense):

The Art of Stemming (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5912520/Stemming-and-Disguising-Coverage)

[Favpack]

I was watching the old, old, Super Bowl 10 highlights on You Tube a while back and it was amazing how much zone blocking the Steelers did for Harris. You never see that much zone blocking today - the DL is way to fast, agile and smart.

[ftballin11]

I was watching the old, old, Super Bowl 10 highlights on You Tube a while back and it was amazing how much zone blocking the Steelers did for Harris. You never see that much zone blocking today - the DL is way to fast, agile and smart.


All katy runs is zone blocking.

[2smooth07]

Strength is good but what happens if your slow with all that strength...a fast DL causes havoc agaisnt side ways moving linemen...penetration kills most plays so I would take speed and little size over size with only one guy that can run

[KT2000]

Strength is good but what happens if your slow with all that strength...a fast DL causes havoc agaisnt side ways moving linemen...penetration kills most plays so I would take speed and little size over size with only one guy that can run

I thought speed first, but there are quite a few ways to counter that and take advantage of possible overaggression. If you are strong enough to resist the flow of a zoning OL and not get washed out of making a play, there isn't much room for the RB. If the linemen can't make the tackle then an LB will be free to finish it off as long as the OL isn't hitting the 2nd level.

Obviously, it'd be nice to have both a strong and fast DL but I'd rather have the power if I could only choose one as a DL.

[FarmerFootballPlayer]

Well, first off, it requires a talented and smart offensive line to properly execute a zone blocking scheme. So often times a defense can get help from an offensive line not suited to zone block.

Otherwise, I'd just echo what others have said. As long as your defensive line holds its ground and doesn't get blown off the ball, then the LB's should be able to make the play if a lineman can't get off the ball. That's if you're running a four man front. In a 3-4, I'd say hope your three down linemen can just take three of their o-linemen out of the equation, then you have four linebackers against two offensive linemen (maybe a tight end) and the back. The former gives you a numbers advantage that should work. With the tight end, I think you have to rely on LB speed or block shedding ability to make the play before the back breaks loose.

[2smooth07]

I got a question for you guys...whats the best way to teach the zone scheme...where im at we combo alot and I want our scheme to evolve so that teams cant just blow gaps on us...I've heard many ways but i want to hear from a few more...

[The King]

I got a question for you guys...whats the best way to teach the zone scheme...where im at we combo alot and I want our scheme to evolve so that teams cant just blow gaps on us...I've heard many ways but i want to hear from a few more...

Three on three. or two on two. You need to teach them how to know when to go get the backer. If your OL doesn't make contact with the DL in two steps he needs to go get a backer. In zone blocking your OL and TE will effectivle work in 3 two man teams. If you flip your guards and tackles with the TE they will be zoning with, and against the same guys all night, by the end of the 2nd qtr they will know before the snap who needs to go get the backer on a given play, that is when the zone really startes working.

[CACoach]

First of all it all starts with your DL They have to latch onto the linemen when they are trying to combo block to allow your LB's to run as free as possible. This is especially true if you have a nose guard he can never be scooped or two hated as we call it. He must always latch onto the center.

I also learned from Dave Arranda when he was at Texas Tech when playing in the 4-3 they liked to cheat there LB's up to 3-4 yards to force the combinations to happen faster. You also have to make sure to have good pursuit and make sure u have a cut back player. Drop down safetys out of the quarters look are helpful or else that son of a gun will cut back alot.

[CACoach]

I got a question for you guys...whats the best way to teach the zone scheme...where im at we combo alot and I want our scheme to evolve so that teams cant just blow gaps on us...I've heard many ways but i want to hear from a few more...


Look into angle zone bloack. I know I say this alot but the FCPGA has some great stuff on it. Easy to teach and hard to defend all the colleges are running it now adays especially off their zone read stuff. Here is the website

http://billwilliamsfcpga.com/

[The King]

First of all it all starts with your DL They have to latch onto the linemen when they are trying to combo block to allow your LB's to run as free as possible. This is especially true if you have a nose guard he can never be scooped or two hated as we call it. He must always latch onto the center.

I also learned from Dave Arranda when he was at Texas Tech when playing in the 4-3 they liked to cheat there LB's up to 3-4 yards to force the combinations to happen faster. You also have to make sure to have good pursuit and make sure u have a cut back player. Drop down safetys out of the quarters look are helpful or else that son of a gun will cut back alot.

If you bring the Lb's up close the combo blocks dissapear faster, but the OL gets to the LB's faster too.

The Most disruptive thing to a zone blocking scheme is speed. IF the OL is good they will adjust to the speed or the LB's being close, by the second or third series.

A well coached OL will be able to make blocking adjustments in the huddle or on the line.

[SJU#1]

If you bring the Lb's up close the combo blocks dissapear faster, but the OL gets to the LB's faster too.

The Most disruptive thing to a zone blocking scheme is speed. IF the OL is good they will adjust to the speed or the LB's being close, by the second or third series.

A well coached OL will be able to make blocking adjustments in the huddle or on the line.

I couldn't agree more. Speed, not power, is the way to defeat zone blocking. Although I will add one caviat, the defense must stay disciplined and not allow for cutbacks.

The zone blocking scheme doesn't really have a designed running lane. Instead, it attempts to create a running seam by forcing a defensive player (ideally, many players) to get out of position. If a defense can maintain their gap assignment from sideline to sideline, a seam will not develop. Only a fast, disciplined defense can do this on a consistent basis.

[CACoach]

Right the Oline will get to the linebackers quicker but now you are forcing single blocks on your DL, instead of allowing them to combo off late. This is something that is benificial if your DL has trouble latching onto the zone to stop the linemen getting off altogether.

and if my Defensive linemen get single blocked all game I expect them to win more then they lose.

Like I mentioned before I know this is the theory used at Texas Tech in the late 90's early 2000's.

[CACoach]

I would have to say that speed is not the most disruptive thing for a zone blocking scheme. Really the scheme was built to exploit speed because if you have to many players running playside the zone is just going to cut back. Its built to do so thats what makes it so hard to defend. You can have everyone running to the ball great pursuit great speed but then they will pop it.

So then obviously like its been said gap integrity is the most important thing, but thats not saying much because thats just important to all defense. It should be common knowledge.

This is why I say to defeat the zone blocking scheme your linemen have to latch on to the zone blocking so that linemen cant combo off and block linebackers late. They also have to work square down the LOS and play on the LOS to ensure there are no cut back lanes.

What I said about cheating the LB's up is an adjustment to make and its not built for the LB's making plays its built to give DL 1 on 1 blocks fast so they can make the plays.

[The King]

I would have to say that speed is not the most disruptive thing for a zone blocking scheme. Really the scheme was built to exploit speed because if you have to many players running playside the zone is just going to cut back. Its built to do so thats what makes it so hard to defend. You can have everyone running to the ball great pursuit great speed but then they will pop it.

So then obviously like its been said gap integrity is the most important thing, but thats not saying much because thats just important to all defense. It should be common knowledge.

This is why I say to defeat the zone blocking scheme your linemen have to latch on to the zone blocking so that linemen cant combo off and block linebackers late. They also have to work square down the LOS and play on the LOS to ensure there are no cut back lanes.

What I said about cheating the LB's up is an adjustment to make and its not built for the LB's making plays its built to give DL 1 on 1 blocks fast so they can make the plays.

A good Offensive Lineman is expected to be able to go 1 on 1 with any DL or LB put in front of him. In many of these situations they will work for a drive or two then the OL will adjust. If the DL latched on to OL they can only latch onto one at a time.

In games when a DL latches on to an OL the combo block never happens, the released OL goes to the next level.

[CACoach]

I dont think you are understanding what im saying. (let me preferance this with i didnt make this up just about every college and NFL team does this) I learned it from Pete jenkins who coached DL in the SEC for 25 years and now is the DL coach for the eagles so there has to be some truth to it. I know for a fact it works because i use it and we have no trouble against zone teams, and i know college teams use it and have seen it worked.

so to respond to your last comment, the defensivelinemen doest latch onto both thats obviously impossible he latches onto the zone. So if it is the center and guard working to scoop the nose the nose guard latches onto the center and turns his *** into the BS guard. thus making it impossible for him to be scoooped. This now leaves the playside inside linebacker in the 3-4 or the mike in the 3-3 running free. so thats one example of latching on (if you would like tape of this i would be willing to send it to)

Now the adjustment of the bsg just coming off when the nose is latching is an idea but ill tell you the reasons i was told not to worry about that.

1. the back side guard wont have the time to decide that he cant overtake and possibly get all the way to the front side ILB or mike and have an angle to block him. Now he could try and block him into the zone or the power serge as alot of zone blocking coaches call it and rely on the backs vision to cut it back, however our dl is now being zone blocked away from the play 1 on 1 if the back cuts back he will be in a world of hurt. plus our backside ILB is always slow to go for cut backs just the way any good 3-4 team does it when the nose is 2 gapping.

2. If the adjustment is made for the offensive line to go right now to the LB that is no longer zone blocking that is man blocking 1 on 1 which is exactly what the zone doesnt want. they want to double team the shade our gap down guys and block linebackers late. So now u have turned the zone into something differently intirely. And as a defensive coach I would be just fine if they did that that means they are blocking everyone 1 for 1 and I can just out number them in the box. And as a defensive coach I always believe my team should beat single blocks and i think most people believe that strongly thats why u dont see scheme where teams just send players at players unless its pop warner.

now all these concepts hold true in the 40 front aswell i just dont coach a forty front so I didnt get into it. This concept was first used out of the eagle defense and has ivolved from there.

[The King]

I dont think you are understanding what im saying. (let me preferance this with i didnt make this up just about every college and NFL team does this) I learned it from Pete jenkins who coached DL in the SEC for 25 years and now is the DL coach for the eagles so there has to be some truth to it. I know for a fact it works because i use it and we have no trouble against zone teams, and i know college teams use it and have seen it worked.

so to respond to your last comment, the defensivelinemen doest latch onto both thats obviously impossible he latches onto the zone. So if it is the center and guard working to scoop the nose the nose guard latches onto the center and turns his *** into the BS guard. thus making it impossible for him to be scoooped. This now leaves the playside inside linebacker in the 3-4 or the mike in the 3-3 running free. so thats one example of latching on (if you would like tape of this i would be willing to send it to)

Now the adjustment of the bsg just coming off when the nose is latching is an idea but ill tell you the reasons i was told not to worry about that.

1. the back side guard wont have the time to decide that he cant overtake and possibly get all the way to the front side ILB or mike and have an angle to block him. Now he could try and block him into the zone or the power serge as alot of zone blocking coaches call it and rely on the backs vision to cut it back, however our dl is now being zone blocked away from the play 1 on 1 if the back cuts back he will be in a world of hurt. plus our backside ILB is always slow to go for cut backs just the way any good 3-4 team does it when the nose is 2 gapping.

2. If the adjustment is made for the offensive line to go right now to the LB that is no longer zone blocking that is man blocking 1 on 1 which is exactly what the zone doesnt want. they want to double team the shade our gap down guys and block linebackers late. So now u have turned the zone into something differently intirely. And as a defensive coach I would be just fine if they did that that means they are blocking everyone 1 for 1 and I can just out number them in the box. And as a defensive coach I always believe my team should beat single blocks and i think most people believe that strongly thats why u dont see scheme where teams just send players at players unless its pop warner.

now all these concepts hold true in the 40 front aswell i just dont coach a forty front so I didnt get into it. This concept was first used out of the eagle defense and has ivolved from there.

A lot of times in the late 3rd & 4th Quarter after the defense has done the same thing in reponse to the zone over and over that is exactly what happens.