How To Run Inside Zone In American Football

The Inside Zone Blocking Scheme is a staple in both spread and pro-style offenses, aiming to open vertical running lanes by having the offensive line block specific 'zones' rather than individual defenders. This play focuses on teamwork and flexibility, enabling the offense to adapt on the fly to the defense's movement.

Inside Zone is one of the most common plays in American Football. The blocking scheme is simple and allows for a ton of variation in your Offensive Playbook. This video is meant to serve as a guide to everything you need to know about installing inside zone into your offense. It's complete with videos breaking down All 22 Film (game film) and diagram walk throughs of the blocking rules.

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Concept Videos

General Football Knowledge Videos

Let me know what concepts you want done next!

Intro: (0:00)
What This Attacks: (0:26)
Covered, Uncovered Rules (Diagram Walk Throughs): (3:14)
3-Man Front: (10:33)
Homework Assignment: (13:46)
Reading The C Gap Defender: (14:07)
Film Breakdown: (16:02)
Using a Number System: (18:42)
Adding a Jet Sweep Action: (21:15)
Adding RPOs: (23:37)
Film Breakdown (RPO): (25:14)
Stick RPO From 3x1: (26:22)
Film Breakdown (Stick RPO): (27:47)
For The Football Nerds: (29:03)

[Spinks]

This is, by far, the best zone blocking explanation on YouTube

[carsonhart]

this is easily the best explanation of the rules of inside zone that i have seen. good job

[mikeer]

I wish all the parents in the crowd at high school games would watch this so they could understand how complicated football is and stop talking shit about hs coaches and the parents would realize they know nothing about football

[davidplum]

Good video. HS o-line coach here — we teach Covered/Uncovered in our zone game. I really like your definition of ‘covered’, mine has probably been too heavily weighted to the backside defenders and too often we get guys not working playside, and being too heavy on their backside look. I always say, defenses are gap sound, if there is nobody in your gap as the snap, somebody will show up.

[christopherarther]

The running backs path sets the blocking for the offensive line. Change the aiming point of the running back to adjust the lines double teams. Inside leg of the tackle or outside leg of guard depending on lb flow. The rbs path sets the flow of lbs. The idea of zone is to get double teams on the defensive line. Two smaller guys moving one big guy. Or buddy blocking. Similar to duo just not holding the double team as long. The last resort is to run the offensive lines track to a gap or in this case the next down man, leaving the backside o lineman to catch up to the next down d lineman playside that’s usually a full gap away. That’s hard to get. I call that f u blocking. That is what you adjust to if the d lineman runs twists and stunts( resulting in the lineman stepping to a gap) you do this because it catches the stunt from the defensive line without knowing what gap the defender will take. Step in a direction and take what crosses your face.This version will work but it is an adjustment not the first choice. The reason it is ran this way many times is because defensive linemen now are taught to back door the block. Bigger slower d lineman can use this technique. Smaller faster defensive linemen can get in front ( or over the top)of the block. Both ways are beneficial especially if you major in inside/ outside zone. Outside zone you can get away with running to a gap because the path of the rb is the inside leg of the te or ghost te and the flow is faster. It forces the lbs to run the same path stressing the gap integrity of the defense. In summary the running back is key to make this go he has to understand that pace and angles set up his yards. I hope this helps.

[jheize]

This is a great blend of scheme and film. Do like the film part more tho!

[william-ajones]

I remember watching Bijan Robinson running in this scheme. He is the best Rb I've seen at seeing daylight, being patient, then accelerating to the opening.

[juniorm]

Good Day, are you available to do a podcast to talk more about the inside/outside zone concepts for the Dolphins? I am apart of a group called Inside Leverage that works with 5 reason sports.

[milkcrate]

2:45. Packets are running outside zone. Not inside zone. The reads are different and the backside line cuts off. The RB made a terrible read.

[tylermckee]

What program are you using to draw while the computer is up?

[tomservo]

By the way you also make a lot of references in your videos to "3 tech" and similar terms. What does that mean, is that what they call DTs now?

[zareh]

I can't figure out how to block an Okie front. It's like trying to figure out a riddle.

[toledoseahawks]

The whole time I thought, "is he wearing apperal from the Munich Cowboys?" or is this "M" just popular. It is the Munich Cowboys!

[tomservo]

Can we please lose the music? It's unnecessary.