Fundamental Run Concepts

Gap Concepts

The goal of this section is to show the basic idea behind these run concepts. Not every play will be super in depth and detail as my goal is to give a basic and concise explanation of these concepts. These rules and diagrams might differ from how you teach and call things but that's OK. Its a good idea to take these concepts and tweak them so they fit your personnel and game plan.

Power

Power is the most basic and fundamental run play of the modern era of football. This play is the cornerstone of many offenses inside run game. Power is universal in its design and usage. Most of the diagrams will be out of two back formations, but spread teams have figured out ways to run power with only one back. Power is traditionally run with a pulling backside guard and a kickout block from a fullback on the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMOL)

LT: Hinge block. Step inside and make sure nobody shoots the gap. Turn and block the EMLOS

LG: Pull and lead

C: Down block

RG: Down block

RT: Base block

TE: Down block

FB: Kick out EMOL

RB: Lateral step play side. Read block of the offensive tackle.

Something that's important to note on these variations is how the front side of power is blocked. One of the fundamental blocking rules of power is that if there is a defender in the gap where power is being run, the offensive linemen will double team him out of the gap to a linebacker. This is demonstrated in the two back power example above. Either linemen can chip off of the double team and pick up the Mike LB.

In the one back power example, the front side offensive linemen block the linemen to their outside shoulder or "Lock" on to them. The pull is shorter for the backside guard, but is still responsible for the Sam LB. If the defensive tackle was in a 1 technique, the offensive guard would block down on him and the guards pull would go back to its usual distance. You will notice that the Mike LB isn't blocked in this example. This is one of the downsides of one back power out of 10 personnel. That problem can be remedied with in run-pass option (RPO) concepts that can take advantage of the Mikes reaction to run.

Duo

Duo is basically power without a puller. it allows teams to have a nice blocking surface against the majority of defensive looks. It also helps reduce penetration of defenders and blitzers because linemen are looking for double teams wherever they can get them.

This play is great to add RPO's to because it gives you a solid blocking surface to work with. It will allow you to not just throw quick slants and screens, but deeper third level RPO's 12+ yards downfield. This is because it can take longer for the double team blocks to develop, therefore taking longer for ineligible linemen to make their way downfield.

Counter

Counter might be the single most effective run play in the sport. Every team has counter as a staple of their run game in one form or another. Counter can be run out of a wide variety of formations and can be run to the strong or weak side of these formations. Coaches will chose the variations of counter that work best for their players and scheme.

OF Counter

Old school counter is mainly run out of 21 and 11 personnel and often times, to the strong side of the formation. This makes sense back when the main goal of running the ball was to outnumber the defense at the point of attack.

GT Counter

GT counter might be the most popular form of counter in modern spread offenses. Just about every team has some version of GT counter in their playbook.

10 personnel spread teams will read the defensive end to account for the extra man in the box.

Iso

Iso is just about the simplest run play in football. Iso means that the offense is trying to isolate a linebacker and block him with a fullback or H back. Iso has lots of variations and can be run out of multiple formations. It is also a favorite for many teams on the goal line because of its solid blocking surface.

Iso weak out of 21 personnel is a great play because once the Will gets blocked, there isn't a alley player to com help in run support. The next closest player is either a safety or a corner.

Trap

Trap is a play that isn't used as much anymore but the teams that continue to use trap plays use them effectively. Trap plays are a great way to take advantage of aggressive interior defensive linemen. These plays are typically quick hitters that force the defense to react quickly. Trap has evolved in spread offenses and teams are constantly finding new and creative ways to run variations of trap.

One variation of trap that is still used widely today is Wham. wham is when a fullback or H back is used to block an interior linemen rather than a pulling guard. the play still hits quickly and is a good way to block aggressive interior linemen.

Trap was one of the base plays in offenses such as the Wing-T and the old I formation. These offenses have some fun variations of trap that I think are worth mentioning here.

Zone Concepts

Inside Zone

Inside Zone is the bread and butter run scheme for most teams, especially spread teams. Inside zone is a run inside the tackles that looks to take advantage of double teams on the defensive line to get movement up front. The RB can take advantage of this movement to either bang, bend or bounce their run. Zone has the advantage if simplicity over gap scheme runs, but relies on movement of defenders and the blocking angles aren't always as good as gap schemes. This doesn't mean that inside zone cant be a physical running play. There is a misconception from coaches and fans that zone runs are somehow "finesse", when in reality, zone runs have high success and efficiency rates and limit negative plays better than gap runs. Inside zone is a great play if consistently repped, practiced and implemented.

Inside Zone blocking fundamentals can be found here

Inside zone has become a favorite of spread teams in recent years because of its adaptability and how it lends itself to RPO's. One of the critical evolution's of zone runs was the zone read. Zone read means that the QB is reading the backside defender on the LOS and either keeps the ball and runs or gives the ball to the RB depending on the read defenders reaction. This has made it so offenses can essentially block a 6 man defensive box with only 5 blockers, or a 7 man box with 6 blockers.

Another interesting way that coaches like to run inside zone is with the "lock" "Bluff" and "Lead" tags. This was a way for coaches to add an extra blocker in the box using an H back or off the line TE to help in the run game. Chris Ault at Nevada really liked to use similar tags and schemes in his pistol run offense.

Outside Zone

Outside zone is similar to inside zone in the fact that this play relies on taking advantage of the movement of the defense. This is especially true when the main goal of the offense for this play is to get defenses to run laterally to open up running lanes for the RB. outside zone is one of the main ways offenses at all levels of football are using to get to the edge of the defensive box with numbers.

Outside Zone blocking fundamentals can be found here

Outside zone also relies on a bang, bounce or bend read. Read playside DE, if he gets upfield, bang, if he gets hooked by the tackle, bounce, if he gets upfield and an defensive takle gets penetration, bend.