Zone Blocking...more detail

Question
I viewed a previous question on zone blocking, and you analyzed the scheme very well.  Our team is preparing to install this scheme into our system, and I would like to know if you have any tips as far as coaching points or sample plays using this blocking scheme.

Answer
Coach Brown -

Thanks for the compliment.  I spend a lot of time and effort trying to teach and explain this scheme, not only over the net, but in real life as well.  The semi-pro team I was hired onto this year has put their faith in me to teach this scheme to their offense, in about 5 months... So needless to say its a rough battle.. But one that is going very well so far. SO you are looking for some coaching points and maybe some tips.. Ok.. Keep in mind its tough without knowing exactly what you are installing, what you have player-wise, coaching-wise, etc, but I will give it a shot.

The first and last thing to always remember in this scheme is to set up a "priority" list for linemen.  Because the zone scheme eliminates the idea of a "called" hole, linemen are forced to become quarterbacks of sorts on every play. In the older man scheme, linemen had 1 assignment per play.  "DO this".. Well, zone is the opposite.  Its all about the read.  So teaching how to read the defense is key.

OK, bare with me..  Please keep in mind I DO NOT plagerise anything I write, so everything is written how I see and think in my own head. Off. linemen must first determine who is a first level defender, and who is a second level defender.  A lot of players get confused on this, and just judge this by the defenders "position" in the program they hand out for fans at the game! - D linemen = 1st level, and LB / DB = second level.  This is not true at all.  Here is an easy way to seperate the two:

1st level - Any defender who appears to have an immediate THREAT on a gap by design.  SO a middle linebacker stacked 2 yards off the LOS looking like he may rush a gap (blitz) would be considered a 1st level defender.

2nd level - Any defender who appears to be reading the flow of the play, but does not necessarily appear to have a gap assignment upon immediate snap of the ball.

ITS ALL ABOUT THREAT LEVEL!! Thats the beginning of the read!  AS I teach this scheme, I will mention a few GOLDEN RULES.  The first one is NEVER LEAVE A 1ST LEVEL DEFENDER UNBLOCKED.  Everything depends on at the very least, engaging the first level guys to create flow. IF you error, error on the side of caution.  Id much rather double team a defender and leave a 2nd level defender alone than to accidentally have 2 linemen leave a 1st level guy alone on the LOS.  

So, now we have determined to the best of our ability (an educated guess) who is who. Now its time to go through a simple priority list.  It starts from the furthestmost player ON the line, playside.  Once he makes a quick read, it goes all the way to the last player on the backside of the line.  Here is a quick checklist of priorities:

1- Man up. IF a man is heads up on you 1st level, thats your block.
2- Reachable either playside gap or backside gap without assistance from another player.  IF a lineman can reach this player and still make an effective blcok, this is his man.
3-  Reachable with the help of a neighboring lineman. IF a defender can be reached successfully with a CHIP block (quick help by pushing the defender towards you, than releasing )from another lineman, this is his man.

Once we get past those 3, you will see how it just becomes a circle.  IF a defender doesnt fall under one of those 3 basic rules to one lineman, he will fall under one of those 3 to a lineman next to you.  See what I am saying?  This is where FOLD blocks and SCOOP blocks come in.  

Those are the basics of the basics in written form for ya.  I know they arent very easy to comprehend through reading, hence the reason we coaches go to clinics and watch in person.  It becomes easier to understand when you are able to see diagrams and have conversation back and forth.

Where do you coach at / what level?  I would be more than willing to assist you further to get your scheme going, and maybe we could set up a different form of communication that would make it a little easier.  This site is a great tool, but I am very limited to what I can provide.  Let me know if youd like further assistance on this or anything else. Hopefully I can help you out further, and with A LOT more detail and explaination through another medium.  

Hope to hear back from you soon.

Best wishes

Coach Perl