Football 101

Ok so in chat with matt, we discussed football and blocking in particular and asked me to do a thread on everything. Please excuse the poorly drawn diagrams and shit, I did all of them in paint.

-The chart here is the offensive gap assignments for the zone blocking scheme at least how I was taught it. The Even numbers making the play go right, odd numbers making it go left. The straight line blocking plays would be the 10 and 20 series. 10 plays would be inside zone, 20 would be outside zone. I will explain further what the difference is later.

-the numbers in the chart determine what is the "1st read" the RB takes. if the play is 10, the RB is looking at the right side "A Gap" and will cut back to the left side "A Gap" as a 2nd read, left side "B Gap" and so on. if the play is 24, the RB is reading the right side "C Gap" and look to cut back to the "B Gap", "A Gap. Etc.

-The difference between 10 and 20 series blocking is the angles and how double teams are used.

-The "10" series on footwork is all vertical steps while the "20" series the Oline-men's 1st step is at a 45 degree angle in the direction of the play.
-The "land marks" or where the offensive lineman looks to block changes in the chart above. In "10 series" blocking, the down line man or nearest defender in a double team is split in half with both offensive linemen reading the linebacker. The offensive linemen on the side of the direction of the linebacker, will peel off and take on the lineback while the other offensive linemen over takes the original block. This is to have the RB go vertical or cut back

-In the "20" series, the point of attack is moved to the play side shoulder of the defender in order to "Reach" block and push the defender up and inside while the running back can go outside or cut back vertically.

-Here is a diagram of the way a double teams are assigned in a standard 2 TE set vs. a 4-3 look where every gap is covered by a defender. Using "10" as a templete.


Ever hear the QB in a game point and scream out "MIKE! MIKE!"? well this is key to the offensive line because the zone blocking numbers are determined out of this.

Even though the play may be going to the right, the defenders on the left are still numbered 1-3 because if you say negative what ever, that says to the defense "the play is going here".
The numbers help Identify who has who in single blocks and in double teams.

Ok, I guess call this installment 1 in football 101. Because I spent like 40 minutes writing and drawling all that. Next installment, Counter, Kick, and Trap blocking schemes.

Ok, to add on to the previous post, the "Mike" call can change depending on the formation, if the offense is in an unbalanced formation, the "center" of the line is moved to either guard, the center can still call out the mike.

Installment 2: Counter, Kick, and Trap. (And Power)
Now the goal of the Counter, Kick, and trap game is to catch the defensive front off guard either expecting inside or outside zone and they rush up field. When the defensive line rushes up field, it leaves the players sides vulnerable to pulling lineman and cracks.
(important to note that while counter and kick do not require calling out the "mike" and numbers, it needs to be done in order to tell the play)
(Also a key not, all pulling offensive linemen hit who they are blocking with the shoulder of the direction they are pulling. Hence the O-line note-to-self "pull right, hit right, pull left, hit left". this prevents the defensive player from going inside the block and disrupting the blocking scheme.)

Now in my experience, 30/31 is "Counter", and 40/41 is "Kick", trap would just be "trap right" or "trap left"
-The difference between "Counter" and "Kick" is what the pulling guard does.
-In counter game, the pulling guard is the "wrapper" where he is pulling around, going off the play side tackles ass up to the middle or back side line backer.
-The Back side tackle takes an inside step to prevent a defender running through the vacant space from the pulling guard.
-The Front Side TE, Tackle, Guard, and the Center take steps away from the Call side. If the play is 31 (diagramed) the Left TE, LT, LG, and C take their 1st steps to the right at 45 degree angles.


-The difference between Counter and Kick is the guard and "wrapper". In the Counter diagram, the play side TE (Left) doubles with the tackle, Depending on the formation, the person responsible for the end is the key for where the Guard turns up to to the linebackers.
-The pulling guard in the "kick" is responsible for to End. In the play diagrammed below (41)
-the RG pulls left to take on the End, the LT, LG, C play their first steps with their right foot. the RT takes a bucket step inside to fill the void.
-The FB now takes on the role of the Guard in 31 where he is wrapping to the linebackers. He must wait 1st for the pulling guard to kick out the DE.

-I chose the I-formation for the "kick" or 41 play because it is easier and quicker to get a FB on a backer instead of pulling the backside TE. While pulling a Back Side TE is doable and can be successful, for basic and conventional run plays, it is better not to.
-The reason why counter is out of a 2 TE set is because it is fairly common. I prefer the Counter out of the I-formation away from the TE side but this puts stress on the FB to block the End to the outside and prevent him from coming inside.

Trap Blocking Schemes are similar to the "Kick" where the pulling offensive linemen is "kicking out" the defensive player. Traps are commonly runned against interior linemen and feater the back side guard as the pulling lineman. Traps are versitial techniques in that they can have tackles or tight ends pulling and can be used in passing screen plays.

-The "Trapped" defensive player is not blocked by the offensive linemen who are in-front of him presnap. This causes the player to rush up field. While up field looking to tackle someone or disrupt something, the pulling backside guard "traps" them and the RB goes of the pulling guards ass up field following the blockers who initially allowed the "trapped" player by.


Power and difference from counter.
-Counter steps from the frontside offensive linemen are a 45 degrees away from the direction of the play. In Power, their steps are like "10" and toward the direction of the play.
-This is designed to go Up Field 1st, then cut outside. Counter is designed to go Up Field 1st, Cut back inside 2nd.
-The play diagramed below shows the RT and RG double teaming up to the playside backer. the TE and FB are responsable for outside players (DE, CB).
-The backside tackle (LT in the play below) is like the 30/40 plays where he buckle steps inside to fill the void left by the pulling guard.
-The pulling guard is taking on the inside backer because he is "flowing" toward the ball. With the angle taken by LB's, the pulling guard takes him head on and forces him back or to the inside. This allows the RB to follow the blocks up and to the outside.


The RB on all of these plays
-On the 30 and 40 series of plays, the RB takes one step away from the call side. in a 31 or 41 play, the RB takes one step toward the right to sell the play to the defense.
-On the Trap play, the RB takes a "Hop" step away from the call side in order to build space for the pulling guard to "trap" the defender"
-On the Power play, the RB can take a "jump" step in place or just simply wait for the blockers in front of him to get to their assignments.
The QB on all of these plays
-On the 30 and 40 series of plays, like the RB, takes his first step and "shows" the ball and turns fully around in order to give the RB the ball.
-On the Trap play, the QB like on 30 and 40, sells a fake with his ball movement. Turning toward the play side then turning back to hand off the ball to the RB.
-On the Power play, the QB treats it like 10 or 20 where he turns toward the play side, tucks the ball, and firmly places the ball in the running backs arms.

Damn you put a lot of effort into this. Good work.

I am going to end up using some of that shit with kids i coach

Installment 3: Pass Blocking and Draws

Different teams use different philosophies on how to pass block. In the Zone Blocking scheme, 50 series, 60 series, 70 series and 90 series are pass blocking sets. 50 series are 5 step drops, 60 series are 3 strep drops, 70 series are 7 step, and 90 series are 1 step.

Like the running sets, even numbers are right, odd numbers are left. This is for the direction the QB should look 1st, and determines what the Olines responsibilities.

the play side offensive tackle and guard play Big on Big or "BOB" for short. In a 4-3 SET they are responsible for their sides DT and DE.

-In the diagram above, the RT and RG take on the DE and DT on their side.
-The LT, LG, and C take 1st thread to their adjacent gap playing inside out forcing the defense to go around.
-The RB is responsible for the playside gaps playing inside out looking for any potential blitzers.

The Difference between 50, 60, 70, and 90 sets are the offensive linemen's steps.
-50 series footwork for tackles in a kick step 1st to build depth and width, the guard and center steps are power steps to maintain the depth of the pocket to prevent it from collapsing in on the QB.
-60 series steps are power steps in 1st and a punch onto the defensive linemen. because it is a quick passing set, this is to prevent the Dline from jumping up and batting passes down.
-70 series steps are the same as 50 except the Oline needs to hold their blocks longer
-90 series steps are the same as 60 except the Oline attacks more because it is a 1 step drop. 

Screen passes are "ballet in pads" because it requires timing and quick feet.

-In the diagram above. the LT, LG, and playside TE all take their 50 seires foot steps 1st, they count to 3 mississippi, allow their man by and move up to the next level of defenders.
-the C, RG, RT take their normal 50 series steps.
-the RB will go to the right side of the QB, bluff a block, move left behind the rushing defenders to catch the QBs pass.
-the QB will take a deep set moving back and looking to his right. Bringing the rushing defenders up field. Eventually lofting the ball over or though the rushing defenders to the RB.

EDIT: I assume I should include the Draw play in this. It does not require a diagram because the Draw play is pretty simple to explain.
-The Offensive line will pass set in either 60 or 90 because it is an aggressive set where they attack the defensive line.
-The Offensive line will force outside their defender. in the pass diagram above. the RG and RT force the DT and DE to go outside
-the LT, LG, and C will do a similar blocking technique where they force their assignments to the outside opening up the middle of the field.
-the RB will be hitting the play side A gap
-the QB will take a 3 or 1 step drop to sell the pass fake to the defense.

http://www.playbookexchange.net/Videos.php?vlink=null&vtype=1

there you go matt

Ok Matt, since we have been talking about being an unstoppable combo of HC of football and Athletic director. What would you do as an AD to help out the team. GO!

Gap responsibilities for the Defense

We all hear the color guys say "the guy missed his gap" or what ever after a huge run. Depending on what defense is being played and what the offense ends up running, the gap responsibilities change.

RULE 1: this is the golden rule, NEVER 2 GUYS IN ONE GAP.
-The reason for this is that the defense has 2 guys go through 1 gap, that leaves another gap open for the offense to exploit
-Having 1 man per-gap leaves a tackler at every angle.

RULE 2: Never let it bounce outside
-with all the tacklers inside, cornerbacks and safeties are responsible for containing outside runs and break away runs. They are not the idle matchup with running backs both in size and tackling skill.
-corners must force the plays inside on runs and WR/HB screen allowing interior players the ability to make a play

RULE 3: Read Blitzes does not mean Blitz anyway
-Some plays call for a player to blitz if their assigned player stays into block either TE's or RB's
-Some offenses use teams that do that on defense to set up delayed routes and screens. If you read, blitz, read again.

What drives me crazy is sunday after noons watching teams like Carolina, SF, and NYJ. What do they have in common?

They have Qbs fast enough to run the option but guys dumb enough calling games to say "Read Option."

Saturday's I hear "Zone Read" which is correct. A team might call in the huddle "14-Read" Zone blocking call + Read.

Sundays are a different story. Read Option is all they say. It is redundant. Any option play you are reading the defense regardless. Read Option is a lot like saying Throwing Pass or On the ground run play.

Just giving you a heads up because I am losing my fucking mind watching these retards