S4 - QB Run Game and Play Action Fundamentals

Coaching Football. Building Men.

This is my shout out to the National Football Academies.  I really think what Darin Slack (the Founder and President) and the NFA are doing is great.  Their mission is "Coaching Football. Building Men." They believe that if the only thing you learn from them was how to be a better football player, then they didn't do their job.  Besides teaching our youth what is means to be a respectable adult, their knowledge and teachings of the fundamentals of football is hands down the best.  The main reason I believe this is because they just don't teach you the "What's" of the mechanics but the "Why's".  If you haven't had a chance to visit with the NFA at a camp, clinic, or whatever, I highly advise you to do so.

I would like to talk about the S4 and how the NFA teaches the Quarterback's mechanics in the run game and play action.  The 4 S's stand for Set, Show, Snap, Sell.

Counting System

"If you can count to 3, you can play offensive line."

The counting system is very important when it comes to running any type of zone play (run or pass).  When running a zone play, the counting system tells the offensive line who they are suppose to block and the covered/uncovered system tells them how they are suppose to block.  The counting system ensures that every defender is accounted for in the blocking scheme.  When adding the counting system to a zone system, it really only puts a burden on the Center to recognize and call out #0.  It is very important for the center to be a smart leader because he is setting the blocking schemes on majority of the plays.  The rest of the blockers (offensive line and tight-ends) only have to count out from #0.

What would you like to know more about?

With everything that is going on in my life, I am excite to say that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been very busy of the past couple of months and can't wait to get back to digging into the pro-style running. Traffic has pick up since on this blog since Brophy Tweeted about the site.  Thanks for the love!  I hope that in the near future I can resume providing everyone with information they are in search for and the blog can continue to gain popularity.

Post a comment below on some stuff (specif or vague) you would like me to dig into or talk about.  Some items I would like to cover in the near future are the counting system for OZ and IZ, gap scheme rules, and fundamentals in the run game

In the meantime, watch these videos from a few year back of the University of Minnesota running there IZ and OZ (Pin and Pull).

Outside Zone - The Running Back

I would like to dive into the running back's responsibility on Outside/Wide Zone. This isn't a Stretch Zone where you are trying to get to the edge but is more of an off tackle play with the possibility of getting to the outside. This play is designed to either go to the outside or it is going to be "Cut-Up". Many times the play looks as though the running back is cutting back but if you pay close attention the running back is actually getting north and south in a hurry.

Alex Gibbs is the grandfather of this play and the master of teaching it at the highest level of football. I have watched countless hours of Gibbs talking about the play. OZ is a very expensive (in terms of time) play to install because it takes everyone on the field to execute it to perfection. As Gibbs says: "You can't run this and run everything else... There just isn’t enough time".

Michigan State's Run Game

Here are a couple of videos that break down Michigan State's pro style running game.

Power

Power Variations

Outside Zone

Inside Zone

Here is a link to the full article: Inside the Game: MSU Run Offense

Wide Receiver Blocking

Importance of Wide Receiver Blocking

Wide receivers have a vital role on all run plays and are some of the most important blockers on the field because it takes 11 guys to make a big play. When watching an explosive run play, you will find that the wide receivers are usually busting their tail to make/hold a block so the running back can spring a big run. Russ Grimm, one of the best gap scheme coaches in the NFL, once said that when introducing a run play to his team he first addresses the wide receivers and their assignments because he knows they are important for turning the 10 yards runs into 50 yard runs. By addressing them first, he hopes it is shows them how important their blocks are in the run game. I believe that as a offensive coordinator or a wide receiver position coach, you need to set the tone that run blocking is the first thing that is looked at when it comes to playing time ("No block, No rock"). Alex Gibbs, the "Grandfather" of zone blocking, cuts very talented wide receivers that don't have the desire and will to block on run plays. Having a great desire and attitude to run block will carry over to other aspects of a wide receiver's game. Run blocking by the wide receivers isn't fun, it takes attitude, and it is very important.

10 Tips for Success in Coaching

While I work on my post for installing a pro-style running game, I am going to leave you with a piece on coaching philosophy that I found over at Coach Mike Pope's website - HAWG TUFF. You can find a lot of valuable information on his website.