BlockingFundamentals.html

Blocking Fundamentals

BLOCKING TECHNIQUES

BLOCKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL. ONLY ONE MAN CAN CARRY THE BALL, THE QUARTERBACK MUST BE PROTECTED ON PASS PLAYS, AND USUALLY JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE FAKE. EVERYONE ELSE MUST BE A BLOCKER.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAMS ARE NOT BLESSED WITH OUTSTANDING SIZE EVERY YEAR. BECAUSE THERE WILL OFTEN BE OPPONENTS THAT ARE PHYSICALLY BIGGER THAN WE ARE, WE WILL UTILIZE MANY DIFFERENT BLOCKING SCHEMES ON VARIOUS PLAYS SO THAT WE MIGHT CREATE THE BEST BLOCKING ANGLES FOR OUR PLAYERS, AS WELL AS USING DOUBLE TEAM BLOCKS, COMBO BLOCKS, AND TRAP BLOCKING PROCEDURES TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

THE BASIC BLOCK

YOUR BLOCKING ABILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN OUR OFFENSIVE ATTACK. FOR US TO CONSISTENTLY MOVE THE BALL, WE HAVE TO BE GREAT BLOCKERS. TO BE A GOOD BLOCKER ONE NEEDS TO BE TOUGH, MEAN, AGGRESSIVE AND DETERMINED. YOU MUST NEVER GIVE UP OR GIVE ANYTHING LESS THAN YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST EFFORT. YOU MUST ALSO GIVE SECOND AND THIRD EFFORTS. SECOND EFFORTS WIN BALL GAMES.

YOU WILL NOT BE A COMPLETE FOOTBALL PLAYER, NOR IN MOST CASES A STARTER, UNLESS YOU ARE A GOOD BLOCKER. THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IS THAT YOU MUST WANT TO MAKE YOUR BLOCK ON EVERY PLAY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PRIDE, YOU WILL NEVER BE AN ADEQUATE BLOCKER. IT MAKES VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE HOW YOU GET THE JOB DONE, BUT WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN YOUR PLAY BOOK, MEETINGS, AND DURING PRACTICE ARE THE BEST WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL. OUR GOAL IS PERFECTION.

FUNDAMENTALS COMMON TO ALL BLOCKS:

1. PRE-SNAP LOOK (PSL): ALWAYS TAKE A PSL TO LOCATE YOUR BLOCKING ASSIGNMENT PRIOR TO THE SNAP. ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK THE ENTIRE FIELD OVER, HOWEVER, OR ELSE THE DEFENSE WILL BE ABLE TO KEY YOUR EYES IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT YOUR ASSIGNMENT AND NOTHING ELSE. ON YOUR FIRST STEP GET YOUR EYES ON YOUR MAN IMMEDIATELY. (SHOOT YOUR EYES) VISION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN BLOCKING.

2. KEEP YOU HEAD UP: YOU CANNOT BLOCK WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE. YOU MUST LOCATE THE MAN AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM AS HE IS NOT GOING TO STAND IN ONE SPOT. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR TARGET. SET A PATH TO CUT YOUR MAN OFF FROM MEETING THE BALL CARRIER.

3. APPROACH: EACH BLOCK HAS AN INITIAL APPROACH AND YOU MUST CONCENTRATE ON THIS ANGLE OF DEPARTURE. ONCE THE BALL IS SNAPPED AND YOUR MAN MOVES TO PLAY HIS RESPONSIBILITIES, YOUR APPROACH MUST AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST.

4. BEND THE KNEES: DON'T BEND AT THE WAIST. GET IN A HITTING POSITION BY LOWERING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY BY BENDING THE KNEES!

5. CONTACT: BE A HITTER. BLOCK THROUGH THE MAN, NOT TO THE MAN. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND EYES ON TARGET AND HIT ON THE RISE! DON'T STOP YOUR FEET ON CONTACT.

6. BASE: TO HIT AS YOU HAVE TO, YOU MUST HAVE AND MAINTAIN A GOOD BASE UNDER YOU. KEEP YOUR FEET APART, APPROXIMATELY SHOULDER WIDTH. IF IN DOUBT, WIDEN YOUR BASE.

7. FINISH: FINISH YOUR BLOCK BY RUNNING THROUGH THE MAN. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTACT YOU MUST KEEP YOUR KNEES BENT, HEAD UP, BACK AT THE PROPER ANGLE, AND YOUR FEET MOVING UNTIL THE WHISTLE BLOWS!

8. PRIDE: TO BE A GOOD BLOCKER YOU MUST TAKE PRIDE IN THE LITTLE DETAILS OF THE FUNDAMENTALS INVOLVED.

BASE BLOCKING RULES

IF THERE IS NO BLOCKING CALL MADE IN THE HUDDLE, I.E., THE QB CALLS, "RIGHT - DIVE 34 - ON THE FIRST SOUND - READY . . . BREAK!" IT WOULD MEAN THAT EVERYONE IS TO BASE BLOCK AND THERE IS NO SPECIAL BLOCKING COMBINATION TO BE USED FOR THIS PLAY UNLESS THE IOT MAKES A BLOCKING CALL AT THE LOS. THE BASE BLOCKING RULES FOR OUR LINEMEN ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. OUR BLOCKING RULES ARE BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF:

A. BLOCKING INSIDE OUT,

B. BLOCKING DOWN LINEMEN FIRST.

BASE BLOCKING AREAS:

1. CENTER: BLOCK ANY DEFENDER IN THE AREA BETWEEN HIS FEET. IF NO ONE IS THERE, BLOCK ONSIDE GAP TO BACKSIDE LINEBACKER.

2. GUARDS: BLOCK ANY DEFENDER FROM THE NEAR FOOT OF THE CENTER TO OWN OUTSIDE FOOT.

3. TACKLES: BLOCK ANY DEFENDER FROM THE NEAR FOOT OF THE GUARD TO OWN OUTSIDE FOOT.

4. TIGHT END: BLOCK ANY DEFENDER FROM THE NEAR FOOT OF THE SG TO A POINT ONE YARD OUTSIDE OF OWN OUTSIDE FOOT.

ALWAYS BLOCK DOWN LINEMEN IN THESE AREAS FIRST. FOR EXAMPLE: IF THERE WERE A DOWN LINEMAN LINED UP ON YOUR OUTSIDE FOOT AND A LINEBACKER LINED UP ON YOUR INSIDE FOOT, YOUR RULE WOULD SAY TO BLOCK THE INSIDE MAN FIRST (THE LB'ER), HOWEVER A DOWN LINEMAN SUPERCEDES A LB'ER WHO IS OFF THE BALL, AND YOU WOULD BLOCK THE DOWN MAN FIRST. THIS TOO, HOWEVER, COULD CHANGE IF THE LB'ER JUMPS UP ONTO THE LOS AND TRIES TO BLITZ THE GAP. IN ESSENCE, THEN, THE LB'ER IS NO LONGER BACKING UP THE LINE BECAUSE HE IS ON THE LOS AND BECAUSE OF THIS, SHOULD BE BLOCKED FIRST BECAUSE HE IS ON THE LOS AND TO THE INSIDE.

BASICALLY SPEAKING, YOUR RULE IS TO BLOCK BY THIS PROGRESSION:

1. "IN": INSIDE GAP FIRST;

2. "ON": MAN ON SECOND;

3. "OUT": OUTSIDE GAP THIRD;

4. "LB'ER CLOSEST TO YOU": FOURTH.

DRIVE BLOCK

IF YOU ARE A BLOCKER AT THE POINT OF ATTACK (POA), YOU ARE TO USE A DRIVE BLOCK ON THE DEFENDER IN THE AREA (UNLESS THERE IS A SPECIAL BLOCKING CALL TO BE MADE). YOU ARE TO USE A DRIVE BLOCK EXECUTED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER FOR OUR OFFENSE TO BE PROPERLY EXECUTED.

1. GET IN A GOOD OFFENSIVE STANCE THAT YOU CAN EXPLODE FROM.

2. ON THE SNAP COUNT, STEP WITH YOUR INSIDE FOOT. YOU STEP WITH THE INSIDE FOOT FIRST BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO FIRST PROTECT THE INSIDE GAP. THIS STEP SHOULD BE A SHORT, POWERFUL STEP.

3. CONTACT SHOULD BE MADE ON THE SECOND STEP. YOU MUST REMAIN LOW. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS STRIVE TO KEEP YOUR SHOULDER PADS LOWER THAN THE SHOULDER PADS OF YOUR OPPONENT. THE LOWEST MAN HAS THE BETTER ANGLES OF FORCE AT HIS DISPOSAL; LOWEST MAN GENERALLY WINS.

4. THE CONTACT THAT IS MADE ON THE SECOND STEP SHOULD BE A FOREARM SHIVER TO THE DEFENDER'S SOLAR PLEXUS. A HIT DELIVERED HARD ENOUGH TO THIS AREA CAN ACTUALLY "KO" YOUR OPPONENT AS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY IN BOXING. YOUR CONTACT SHOULD BE WITH THE FOREARM AND SHOULDER AREA.

5. AS YOU STRIKE, YOU SHOULD RIP UP THROUGH YOUR OPPONENT BY DRIVING YOUR HIPS FORWARD AND UP INTO THE DEFENDER. IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR FIRST STRIKE AND CONTACT IS ON A LOW PLANE TO STOP THE INITIAL CHARGE OF THE DEFENDER; YOUR SECOND MOVE IS TO "FOLLOW THROUGH" WITH THE BLOCK BY WORKING TO A HIGH PLANE (CLIMB) USING THE STRONGEST MUSCLES OF YOUR BODY LOCATED IN THE HIPS, THIGHS, AND LEGS.

6. POSITIONING LIKE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE BACK CARRYING THE BALL IS GOING TO "READ" YOUR BLOCK. "READING YOUR BLOCK" MEANS THAT THE BACK IS GOING TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK WHERE YOUR HEAD IS AND RUN TO THE DAYLIGHT THAT IS CREATED.

7. MOST DEFENDERS WANT TO MOVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THE LOS, I.E., THEY LIKE TOSLIDE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER UP AND DOWN THE LOS, OR THEY HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO SLANT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY A DEFENSIVE CALL. WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF YOU IS TO:

A. GET OFF THE BALL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE;

B. PROTECT THE INSIDE GAP;

C. STRIKE YOUR MAN;

D. STOP HIS PENETRATION, AND

E. TAKE YOUR MAN THE "WAY HE WANTS TO GO."

8. YOU FINISH YOUR BLOCK OFF WITH YOUR ARMS. YOU FINISH THE BLOCK BY EXTENDING AND PUSHING YOUR MAN IN THE DIRECTION HE WANTS TO GO. BY NOW YOU SHOULD BE "TURNED OUT" FROM THE LOS, AND THE DEFENDER IS TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE PLAY. YOU ARE TO MAKE HIM "RUN AROUND THE BLOCK." IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE BALL CARRIER WILL BE THROUGH THE HOLE AND INTO THE SECONDARY.

EXAMPLE OF DRIVE BLOCK SEQUENCE

PLAY CALL: DIVE 34

ON THIS PLAY THE FB IS TO CARRY THE BALL BEHIND THE BLOCK OF THE IOT. THE FB WILL "READ" THE IOT'S BLOCK. SINCE THERE IS NO SPECIAL BLOCKING CALL, ALL OTHER LINEMEN WILL BLOCK THE DEFENDER IN THEIR AREA ACCORDING TO THE BASE RULE. THEY WILL EXECUTE A CUT-OFF BLOCK ON THIS MAN.

THE FB "READS" THE BLOCK OF THE IOT WHO HAS MADE CONTACT ON HIS SECOND STEP AND IS TAKING THE DT THE WAY HE WANTS TO GO. THE FB "BENDS" AROUND THIS BLOCK TO THE "DAYLIGHT" AND GETS THROUGH THE HOLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE OTHER LINEMEN ARE "CUTTING OFF" THEIR DEFENDERS AND MAKING THEM RUN AROUND THE BLOCK.

CUTOFF BLOCK

1. IF YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED IN A BASE, DRIVE BLOCK AT THE POA, THEN YOU WILL EXECUTE A CUT-OFF BLOCK.

2. YOU ARE TO ATTACK THE MAN IN YOUR AREA ACCORDING TO THE BASE RULE, UNLESS TOLD OTHERWISE BY A COACH.

3. FIRST STEP WITH THE PLAYSIDE FOOT. THIS SHOULD BE A SHORT, CONTROLLED, POWERFUL STEP.

4. YOU KNOW WHERE THE POA IS - THE DEFENDER DOES NOT. THIS GIVES YOU THE ADVANTAGE. ANTICIPATE WHERE THE DEFENDER IS GOING TO MOVE KNOWING WHAT THE PLAY IS. SET A PATH TO CUT-OFF THE DEFENDER FROM REACHING THE BALL CARRIER.

5. WHEN YOU CONTACT THE DEFENDER, STRIKE HIM WITH THE FAR (THE ARM AWAY FROM THE POA) ARM WITH A SHIVER TO THE SOLAR PLEXUS. FIGHT TO KEEP YOUR NEAR (INSIDE OR PLAYSIDE) ARM FREE FROM CONTACT.

6. ON CONTACT, CLIMB THE DEFENDER BY FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH YOUR HIPS, THIGHS, AND LEGS. RUN UP FIELD AT AN ANGLE TOWARD THE POA. NEVER LET THIS MAN CROSS YOUR FACE.

7. FORCE THE DEFENDER TO "GO AROUND" THE BLOCK. THIS MEANS THAT HE WOULD SLIDE OFF THE FAR SHOULDER AND GO BEHIND YOU TO GET TO THE BALL CARRIER WHO BY THAT TIME, WILL BE THROUGH THE HOLE AND RUNNING AWAY.

X BLOCK

1. AN "X" BLOCK DENOTES A CROSS BLOCK BY TWO DEFENDERS AT THE POA, EITHER THE IOT & OOT, SG & IOT, OR TE & WG.

2. THE RULE READS THAT THE MAN WHO WILL BLOCK THE DOWN LINEMAN GOES FIRST. IF BOTH DEFENDERS ARE DOWN OR ON THE LOS, THE MAN TO BLOCK THE INSIDE DEFENDER GOES FIRST. ALWAYS BLOCK THE DOWN LINEMAN TO THE INSIDE FIRST.

3. THE MAN GOING FIRST WANTS TO STEP WITH THE INSIDE FOOT AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TOWARD THE MAN HE IS TO BLOCK. ANTICIPATE A HARD, INSIDE CHARGE BY THE DEFENDER. YOU MUST GO TO "WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE" NOT WHERE HE IS ALIGNED.

4. AIM FOR AND STRIKE HIS OUTSIDE HIP WITH A FOREARM SHIVER WITH YOUR INSIDE ARM. DRIVE HIS HIP DOWN THE LINE. THIS WILL PUT YOUR HEAD ON HIS BUTT. IT WILL FORCE HIM TO "RUN AROUND THE BLOCK." YOU MUST DRIVE THE HIP.

5. THE MAN TO "BLOCK OUT" NEEDS TO DROP STEP WITH THE OUTSIDE FOOT. STRIKE THE DEFENDER WITH YOUR OUTSIDE ARM IN THE SOLAR PLEXUS. CLIMB YOU MAN. TURN HIM TO THE OUTSIDE. ANTICIPATE, AIM FOR WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE.

TRAP BLOCK

A TRAP BLOCK CALL MEANS THAT THE OFFSIDE GUARD IS GOING TO PULL AND BLOCK OUT A DEFENDER AT THE POA. TRAPS CAN TAKE PLACE AT ANY HOLE. WE HAVE SPECIAL RULES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN TRAP BLOCKING.

THE BASIC AREAS WE WANT TO TRAP BLOCK ARE: OVER THE CENTER, INSIDE THE TACKLE, AND OUT OVER THE END. EACH ONE OF THESE IS BLOCKED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE DEFENSE IS PLAYING AN ODD OR EVEN FRONT.

TRAP BLOCK OVER THE CENTER:

1. WE WANT TO TRAP THE FIRST DOWN LINEMAN PAST THE CENTER.

2. ON ODD DEFENSES WE WILL DOUBLE TEAM THE NOSE GUARD WITH THE ONSIDE GUARD AND THE CENTER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DRIVE THE DOUBLE TEAM BLOCK DOWN THE LINE AND BACK INTO THE LAP OF THE BACKSIDE LB'ER. THE BASICS OF THE DOUBLE TEAM BLOCK ARE:

A. THE CENTER IS THE POST MAN. HE MUST DRIVE LOW, STRAIGHT INTO THE DEFENDER STOPPING HIS INITIAL CHARGE. THE CENTER MUST BE SQUARED UP WITH THE NG.

B. NEAR FOOT FIRST, A SHORT CONTROLLED POWERFUL STEP. HE AIMS FOR THE HIP OF THE NG. HE IS TO STRIKE THE HIP OF THE NG AND DRIVE IT BACK OFF THE LOS.

3. THE ONSIDE TACKLE BLOCKS THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL.

4. THE PULLING GUARD DROP STEPS AND PULLS BEHIND THE CENTER. HE MUST TAKE AN INSIDE-OUT ANGLE ON THE MAN TO BE TRAPPED. AS HE APPROACHES THE TACKLE, HE MUST MAKE SURE NOT TO THROW THE BLOCK TOO EARLY AND GET OVER EXTENDED. AIM FOR THE HIP OF THE TACKLE.

5. THE PULLING GUARD MUST "PUT HIS HEAD IN THE HOLE" AND BLOCK WITH THE CORRECT SHOULDER. IN THE DIAGRAM BELOW THE GUARD WOULD HIT WITH HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

6. THE OFFSIDE TACKLE WOULD EXECUTE A CUT OFF BLOCK.

TRAP OVER CENTER VS EVEN: TRAP FIRST DOWN LINEMAN PAST THE CENTER

IT IS IMPORTANT ON THIS BLOCKING SCHEME TO DRIVE THE DOUBLE TEAM OVER THE CENTER BACK INTO THE PATH OF THE BACKSIDE LB'ER.

THE BASIC RULE ON TRAP OVER THE CENTER IS TO TRAP THE FIRST DOWN DEFENDER PAST THE CENTER. IN THE CASE ABOVE THE FIRST DOWN MAN WAS OVER THE IOT. IN THE CASE BELOW THE FIRST DOWN MAN IS OVER THE SG AND THE BASIC WAY WE BLOCK IT IS SHOWN.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, VS ODD FRONTS WE GET A DOUBLE TEAM ON THE INSIDE OF THE POA. THIS DOUBLE TEAM IS NEEDED TO SEAL THE HOLE WELL AND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FACT THAT AT THIS SPOT, WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD BLOCKING ANGLE. VS EVEN FRONT DEFENSES, WE HAVE GOOD BLOCKING ANGLES CREATED AND, THEREFORE, WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT EVERYONE FROM THE CALLED HOLE IS BLOCKING "ONE MAN DOWN" TO THE PULLING GUARD. WE CAN SEE THIS EFFECT IN THE BLOCKING OF THE TRAP BLOCKING CALL OVER THE END BELOW:

VS ODD

VS GAP OR EVEN: EVERYONE FROM THE CALLED HOLE BACK TO THE PULLING GUARD BLOCKS ONE MAN DOWN

THE TRAP OVER THE TACKLE ALSO VARIES WITH AN ODD OR EVEN LOOK BY THE DEFENSE. BASICALLY, AN OVER THE TACKLE TRAP VS AND ODD FRONT, A CALLED 44 TRAP LET'S SAY, LOOKS THE SAME AS A TRAP OVER THE CENTER. A 4 HOLE TRAP VS AN EVEN FRONT, HOWEVER, LOOKS THE SAME AS AN OVER-THE-END TRAP.

TEAM BLOCK

1. A TEAM BLOCK IS USUALLY CALLED AT THE OFF-TACKLE 6/7 HOLE AND OCCASIONALLY AT THE 2/3 HOLE.

2. WHEN A TEAM BLOCK IS CALLED THE BLOCK IS EXECUTED BY THE IOT AND OOT, OR THE SG & C, WG & C, OR THE TE & WG INVOLVED.

3. WHEN A TEAM BLOCK IS CALLED AT THE 6/7 HOLE, A BACK (USUALLY THE FB) WILL BLOCK THE DEFENSIVE END OUT WHILE THE DEFENSIVE TACKLE IS BEING DOUBLED.

4. ON A 2/3 HOLE TEAM, THE FB (USUALLY) WILL BLOCK THE LB'ER ALIGNED OVER THE GUARD THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE DOUBLE TEAM.

FAN BLOCK

1. WHEN A FAN BLOCK IS CALLED, EVERYONE FROM THE CALLED HOLE OUT BLOCKS "ONE MAN OUT."

2. AGAINST AN ODD, MAN ON DEFENSE, FOR EXAMPLE, A BLAST 32 FAN PLAY, THE SG WOULD BLOCK OUT ON THE MAN OVER THE IOT WHO WOULD BLOCK THE MAN OVER THE OOT WHO WOULD BLOCK THE FIRST MAN TO HIS OUTSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL.

3. WHEN THIS BLOCKING COMBINATION IS CALLED, THERE WILL BE A LB'ER COVERING THE SG. THAT LB'ER WILL BE BLOCKED BY A LEAD BACK.

COMBO BLOCK

1. THE COMBO BLOCK IS A COMBINATION OF THE DOUBLE TEAM AND THE ONE MAN DOWN BLOCKING PRINCIPLE.

2. ON A COMBO BLOCK, THE INSIDE MAN IS THE POST MAN, AND THE OUTSIDE MAN IS THE DRIVE MAN. ON A BLAST 36 COMBO, THE IOT WOULD BE THE POST MAN, AND THE OOT WOULD BE THE DRIVE MAN.

3. IF THE POST MAN CAN HANDLE THE DEFENSIVE MAN ALONE (USUALLY BECAUSE THE DEFENSIVE MAN IS SLANTING HARD TO THE INSIDE), THE DRIVE MAN WOULD COME OFF THE DOUBLE TEAM BLOCK AND WOULD BLOCK LB'ER FLOW TO HIS SIDE.

4. IF THE DEFENSIVE MAN STAYS HOME OR SLANTS OUT TOWARDS THE OOT, A DOUBLE TEAM MUST BE USED TO SEAL OFF THE HOLE TO THE INSIDE.

5. A COMBO BLOCK CAN, THEREFORE, BE EITHER A DOUBLE TEAM OR A SINGLE ANGLE BLOCK DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DEFENSE DOES AS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM TO THE RIGHT.

RAM BLOCK

1. A "RAM BLOCK" INDICATES THAT BOTH GUARDS ARE GOING TO PULL INTO THE CALLED HOLE.

2. IT IS MOST OFTEN USED WITH OUR SWEEP PLAY, BUT CAN ALSO BE USED IN THE OFF TACKLE HOLE.

3. ON A SWEEP 48 RAM CALL (OR ANY 8 - 9 HOLE RAM CALL), BOTH GUARDS ARE GOING TO PULL, GET TO THE 8/9 HOLE, TURN UP FIELD, AND BLOCK THE FIRST WRONG COLOR JERSEY THEY SEE. NEITHER GUARD WILL EVER PASS UP A DEFENDER.

4. AS THEY TURN UP FIELD, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO LOOK TO THE INSIDE. THIS IS WHERE THE PURSUIT WILL COME FROM AND IT IS WHAT THEY MUST BLOCK.

5. RAM EXCHANGE CALL: SOMETIMES WE GET A DEFENSIVE END THAT REALLY COMES ACROSS THE LOS SO FAST THAT THE FLANKER CANNOT CRACK ON HIM. WHEN THIS IS THE CASE, WE WILL CALL "RAM EXCHANGE." WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE FRONT SIDE GUARD BLOCKS OUT ON THE FORCE MAN (USUALLY THE FB'S RESPONSIBILITY), THE FLANKER GOES TO LEVEL TWO (LB'ER) IN HIS SWEEP BLOCKING PROGRESSION, AND THE FB BLOCKS THE DEFENSIVE END. WE NEED TO HAVE THE FB HAVE A VIOLENT COLLISION WITH THE DE ON THIS CALL.

6. WHEN A RAM CALL IS MADE FOR THE 6/7 HOLE, THE BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS ARE: FRONT SIDE GUARD BLOCKS OUT ON THE DEFENSIVE END, THE BACKSIDE GUARD LEADS UP THROUGH THE HOLE LOOKING TO THE INSIDE TO BLOCK FIRST, THE TIGHT END (IF THERE IS ONE ON THE CALLED SIDE) EXECUTES A COMBO BLOCK ON THE TACKLE. ( IF THERE IS ONE, IF NOT HE BLOCKS THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE OFF THE BALL).

7. THE RAM CALL TO THE 6-7 HOLE IS A GOOD CALL WHEN FACING A MAN-ON DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT. WHEN FACING A GAP ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AT THE A-GAP TO BLOCK THE DEFENDERS. THE CALL WE WOULD USE TO REPLACE THE RAM CALL IS THE "GUT." ON THE GUT CALL THE SG AND THE IOT PULL AND BLOCK. THE SG WOULD KICK OUT THE DE AND THE IOT MOVES THROUGH THE HOLE TO BLOCK ON A CB.

GAP

1. A GAP CALL MEANS THAT EVERYONE IS TO BLOCK THE MAN TO THE INSIDE GAP DOWN TO THE CENTER.

2. A GAP CALL IS USUALLY MADE IN ONE OF TWO SITUATIONS: 1.) WE ARE IN GOAL LINE OR SHORT YARDAGE OFFENSE. IN THIS CASE THE GAP CALL WILL PROBABLY BE MADE IN THE HUDDLE. IF THE GAP CALL IS MADE IN THE HUDDLE, OR IF WE ARE IN GOAL LINE OFFENSE, WE WANT OUR LINEMEN TO NARROW DOWN THEIR SPLITS TO ONE FOOT MAX., 2.) THE SECOND SITUATION IS WHERE THE DEFENSE HAS JUMPED INTO THE GAPS WHILE WE ARE ON THE LOS. THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AN "AUTOMATIC" GAP CALL WHILE WE ARE ON THE LOS.

3. IN EITHER CASE, EVERY LINEMAN IS TO BLOCK THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE GAP DOWN THE LINE.

GUT

WHEN "GUT IS CALLED THE SG AND THE IOT PULL AND LEAD THE PLAY TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BALL. THE SG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING OUT THE DE AND THE IOT LEADS THROUGH THE HOLE TO BLOCK THE FORCE MAN.

FLIP AND HITCH BLOCKING

ON THE FLIP AND HITCH PASS PLAYS, WE ARE TO BLOCK AS FOLLOWS:

2. ON BOTH PLAYS THE ONSIDE TACKLE PULLS AND BLOCKS OUT ON THE OUTSIDE FORCE MAN. THE ONSIDE GUARD PULLS AND TURNS UP FIELD AT THE CORNER AND BLOCKS AS HE WOULD ON A SWEEP.

3. THE FB OPENS PARALLEL TO THE LOS UNTIL THE BALL PASSES HIS FACE, THEN HE TURNS UP FIELD AND BLOCKS TO SEAL OFF THE INSIDE.

4. IF THIS PLAY WERE CALLED TO A TE SIDE OF A FORMATION, THE TE WOULD BASE BLOCK AND HOOK THE MAN OVER HIM TO THE INSIDE.

5. THE FLIP IS A QUICK PITCH TO THE TB WHO SWEEPS AROUND THE END.

6. THE TACKLE BLOCKS THE SS OUT, AND THE TB RUNS INSIDE THAT BLOCK. ONCE PAST THE BLOCK ON THE SS, THE TB BENDS TO THE OUTSIDE AGAIN.

7. THE HITCH PASS IS A POP PASS TO A SPLIT RECEIVER WHO HAS A DEFENDER PLAYING OFF HIM. THE OOT PULLS AND BLOCKS THAT DEFENDER OUT.

8. THE RECEIVER STEPS INSIDE TO CATCH THE BALL AND BENDS UPFIELD AROUND THE HIP OF THE OOT. ONCE PAST THE BLOCK OF THE DEFENDER THE RECEIVER SHOULD BEND AGAIN TO THE OUTSIDE.

NOTE: IF WB MOTION WERE CALLED TO THE PLAYSIDE, THE WB WOULD BLOCK OUT ON THE SS AND THE OT WOULD TURN UPFIELD AND GET INTO THE SEAM AND LEAD THE IOT UPFIELD TO BLOCK.

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by Roger A. Freeborn
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