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