Offensive Linemen - Zone Blocking For Football

Zone blocking has become a very effective blocking scheme in football from the little leagues to the pros. It is primarily used to open up running lanes for the offense while taking away stunt and slant attacks and is increasingly used in the passing game. What makes zone blocking schemes so popular is its adaptability to almost any offense. What it does is take away the one on one blocking assignments for offensive linemen and puts them in more effective blocking strategies.

The offensive linemen in this scheme do not have to be the tallest, strongest or biggest linemen on the field. The type of offensive linemen zone blocking requires need to be more athletic, have good foot speed and movement. Coordination and technique are far more valuable that just strength and size.

This article will focus on what zone blocking is, why it works and 3 different types of zone blocks.

Instead of blocking the man in front of a guard, tackle or center the blocking assignments become zones. Offensive linemen must even learn to read the defense.

Purpose:

The main purpose of the zone it to outnumber the defensive players at the point of attack, neutralizing defensive stunts and slants.

Zones:

There are three basic zones, the inside zone, outside zone and the stretch zone.

1. Inside Zone: The play is inside the offensive tackle
2. Outside Zone: The play is outside the offensive tackle
3. Stretch: The play is inside the last offensive player.

Reading the Defense:

Offensive linemen must do more than just block, in the zone blocking scheme they must learn how to read the defense and assign a level to each of the defenders they face. They must determine if the defender is level 1 or a level 2 threat and if the offensive lineman is covered or uncovered.

1. First level threat: Any defender who by design of the defensive scheme appears to be a threat to a gap. What this means not only is the defensive linemen on the LOS a first level threat but any linebacker that is lined up two yards back from the LOS and appears to be ready to blitz a gap would have to be considered a first level threat.

2. Second level threat: This will be any defender who appears to be reading the flow of the play and will not be attacking the gaps on the snap of the ball.

3. Covered Lineman: The offensive lineman has a defender in front of him or he can tell a defensive player is assigned to him.

4. Uncovered Lineman: He has no one in front of him and does not appear to have some one assigned to him.

Zone Blocks:

1. Base Zone Blocking: The offensive lineman focuses his eyes on the playside numbers of the defender and explodes off the snap at the proper angle, the angle being where the defensive lineman lines up. The first step is done with the near foot; the second step should place the blocker square with the defensive player. As the blocker is stepping through the defender he wants to be punching both hands into the center of the target just as he does in a drive block.

2. Scoop block: This block is very effective for an outside stretch play. The Scoop blocks primary function is to cut off the pursuit of the defender. It begins with a level one defender and progresses to a level two. This block begins with eyes focused on the outside number of the defender and a strong push off on the inside foot. Contact should be made by the second step which is a cross over step. The offensive lineman wants to rip his inside arm to the play call side armpit of the defender, turning the defenders stomach up field then release to block the linebacker.

3. Fold Block (Trap block): In this example we will be using the right guard and right tackle. The fold block is usually called when a defensive lineman is lined up in the gap where the play is going. For our purposes the hole will be on the folding lineman's outside shoulder (R Guard) and the down-blocking lineman's (R Tackle) inside shoulder.

The down blocker must fire off the LOS on the snap, stepping up field in a lateral movement. His left leg should step in front of the defensive lineman and his face mask should be planted in the numbers while driving the opponent down the LOS.

The fold blocker, pausing for half a second, should step to his right scooping behind the down blocker, just grazing his before heading up field. Once contact is made with the linebacker the fold blocker wants to place his helmet just under the linebackers left arm driving him back Even if the fold blocker is not able to drive the linebacker back, he should have created the seal that allows the running back to make more yards.

In conclusion the zone blocking schemes for offensive linemen have produced stronger running games by utilizing the athletic talents of the line. Regardless of the type of offense you run, zone blocking can add power to your running game by stopping defensive slants and stunts and help improve the passing game. These were just a few of the zone blocks teams are using to gain more yards on the ground. Use the links below to see DVDs that can show you how to install zone blocking schemes into your offense.

Our Zone Blocking coaching DVDs demonstrate the drills and techniques you want to install effective zone blocking schemes that will take your running game to the next level. http://www.scoretouchdowns.com/line-play-in-the-zone-offense-videos-&-dvds.html

Check out all of our offensive lineman blocking coaching videos at: http://www.scoretouchdowns.com/football-offensive-linemen-training-videos-&-dvds

Why Product Endorsement Deals Are So Important to Professional Athletes

Not all professional athletes make a lot of money such as those that participate in less traditional non revenue producing sports. In order to be able to be a professional athlete full time, many of these less popular athletes have to rely on the products and paychecks they receive from their sponsors and advertisers. Other athletes, that are in the limelight however, make a lot of money playing their sport and even more from their sponsorship deals. One of the first athletes to really do this was NBA player, Michael Jordan who used his basketball skills to promote several products as well as apparel, toys, products and even basketball videos with his name on them.

Wherever there is space to promote a sponsor, they will find a way to do it whether it is on the helmet of a professional NASCAR racer or in the form of a body tattoo to professional beach volleyball player Gabrielle Reece. Athletes are offered great package deals to promote a certain brand as a sort of spokesperson and in exchange they receive monetary and product compensation. For the lesser known athletes, this is very helpful to provide them with the extra income they need to be able to train full time. For other well paid athletes like professional baseball, basketball and football players it is just icing on the cake.

Michael Jordan was one of the first professional athletes to really be endorsed by various sponsors and he ended up making more from those endorsements than he did playing basketball. Certain businesses saw the total star power in Michael Jordan and knew he could make their product be noticed with him promoting it. One example was Gatorade which was a sports drink that had been around for quite a while but when they got Michael Jordan to endorse Gatorade, sales rose quickly and it became the top selling sports drink.

Now younger professional athletes that are making it to the big leagues see product endorsements as part of the package deal when they sign professionally. Many new athletes that are confident in themselves and their ability to sell items even hold out for multi million dollar contracts today. One example of that younger big time player is Le Bron James. He made it into the headlines for his basketball abilities saying he was the next Jordan when he was just a sophomore in high school playing in Akron, Ohio. Now he is one the biggest paid athletes with multiple endorsements.

The largest grossing professional athlete to receive the largest amount of endorsement deals in history is golfer, Tiger Woods. As an individual athlete, he is not paid by salary but rather by performance and how many big golf tournaments he wins. Because he has been such a high profile, successful and marketable player, his endorsements deals are earning him several million each year on top of his golf earnings. He also has lost several of these sponsors with the recent scandals of his many infidelities.

Coach Connor Sullivan operates a basketball web site that offers basketball videos training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free training advice. His brother ordered basketball skills aids and training aids videos from his website.

Who Invented Football?

Football is a word that is confusing and entertaining and a sport that epitomized the pride of a nation and the strength of an athlete. In other places, football is a game known as soccer in America. Football in America is where the quarterback throws the ball to a receiver and everybody is running around the gridiron. And football in Europe and other parts of the world means soccer, where guys run around the field tossing a ball around their knees and head. Whew! That was confusing. So who really invented football?

AMERICA

The "Father of American Football", Walter C. Camp was a football coach and a sports writer and the one who invented football. His name became is legend in the American Football history. He took the rugby game to the next level and invented football. He borrowed term from the rugby game and applied it to football; in rugby, five guys lined-up and are called scrum; in football, he change the five guys to seven guys forming the offensive line, this is called the Line of Scrimmage. Get it? Scrum and scrimmage?

CANADA

Some claims the football is truly a Canadian game and it was a Canadian who invented football. Invented by the replacement for British troops entering Quebec in the 1600's. Canadian Universities then introduced the game to American Colleges. It is said that by the time America first heard of football, Canada already has their professional football league of sorts.

CHINA

Some say that football was invented by Chinese a thousand years ago. The ancient Chinese were said to have kick a ball back and forth for exercise and amusement. It is said that the English only re-invented the sport after explorers visited this far away land. So was it really the Chinese who invented football?

ROMANS

They say it all started in Rome. Romans started playing football quite differently at that time, it is said that they originally toss and throw the pig's head around staking a claim on it. They found it fun and engaging thus it became a sport and thus it was them who invented football.

ENGLAND

It was the English who invented the football, or did they? It has been reported that forms of football were played as early as 1200 in England. As evidence, they pointed out a game seen played in ancient Greece, it is believed to be the predecessor of football. But this game is said to be forbade by The King Henry VI and by the 19th century, it was split into two games; the soccer and the rugby. And because American football evolved from the rugby, the English are basically staking a claim on both football sports.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about who invented football [http://whoinvented.info/who-invented-football/], please visit Who Invented [http://whoinvented.info/] for current articles and discussions.

Gas Mopeds

If you are considering purchasing a moped, you may notice that there are a few different types. Gas mopeds use gasoline as opposed to electricity as its source of power. Gas mopeds are ideal for those who live in cities or need something to get them around town inexpensively. Here is some advice on how to choose a gas moped that is right for you.

First determine your budget. Gas mopeds can range in price depending on if they are purchased used or new. Prices range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. So, no matter what your price requirements are, you will be able to find something.

Beware of mopeds that seem too inexpensive. By searching for a moped based solely on its price, you run the danger of purchasing something that is substandard or broken. You may want to research the model, manufacturer, and any defects that the brand has been known to have before making the purchase.

Once you decide on which gas moped you would like to purchase, you may want to shop around for the best prices. Some people find their mopeds based solely on price; others would like to purchase a specific brand or model. If you do your research, you will find the best prices.

Also understand that different states and cities have different requirements for use, insurance, and licenses. Make sure you contact your local motor vehicle office to make sure you understand all the rules. They may have a minimum speed requirement, require a special license, make your wear a helmet, or purchase insurance. They may also have different safety requirements.

Gas mopeds are an inexpensive transportation alternative. You can use them to commute, run errands, or go for leisurely drives through the surrounding countryside. Whatever your reasons for wanting one, with a little research you are sure to find the best deals.

Mopeds provides detailed information on Mopeds, Gas Mopeds, Cheap Mopeds, Used Mopeds and more. Mopeds is affiliated with Dirt Bike Parts.