Coach Orr's Run Block Fundamentals

Fundamentals of Run Blocking Line Coach: Paul Orr 

Five Fundamentals of run blocking 1. Stanc Stancee (Thr (Three ee Poin Point) t) a. Shou Should lder erss squa square re  b. Feet Feet Shoul Shoulde derr widt width h c. Heel Heel toe toe rel relat atio ions nshi hip p d. Back flat e. Knee Kneess bent bent (Z’ (Z’ss in the the knee knees) s) f. Eyes Fo Forward g. Hand Hand dow down n (Shi (Ship p won’ won’tt sink) sink) h. Weigh eightt on on in in ste step p 2. Start a. Prere-load load foot foot  b. First First step step in a forwar forward d direc directio tion n c. Step Step ove overr a boar board d “Cho “Chopp-Ch Chop op”” d. Hips out out like a rocket not up like like a Jet Jet (Do not not unload unload hips until until contact contact)) 3. Target a. Hands inside inside for for base block or Shoulder Shoulder on Hip Hip of defender  defender   b.  b. Thum Thumbs bs up palm palmss out out c. Elbo Elbows ws clos closee to to bod body y 4. Finish a. Roll Roll Hips Hips!! on on cont contac actt  b.  b. Move Move fee feett on cont contac actt c. Power Power steps steps (W (Walk alk like like a duck) duck) d. Keep Keep a wid widee bas basee 5. Bala Balanc ncee (No (No Slip Slip)) a. Adju Adjust st to defe defend nder  er  b. Open Hi Hips up up c. Catc Catch h up up wit with h fee feett d. Keep Keep hands hands inside inside the framew framework  ork  Steps On step-is an aggressive six inch step straight ahead and is used primarily to start a base  block to a defender who is head up. Fire step- is an aggressive six inch step to a forty-five degree angle to a shaded defender  and is used to start a base block to a defender. Do not point toe an d keep at a  perpendicular angle to the LOS. b locker.. Reach Step-Is a sideways step used to reach and seal a defender outside of the blocker Do not point toe and keep at a perpendicular angle to the LOS. Bucket Step- Like a reach step but blocker takes a step back and around an imaginary  bucket. 3 o’clock (To the Right) and 9 o’clock (To the left)- Lineman throws offset hand to open hips and runs down the LOS. 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock - Lineman throws off set hand and rotates hips at a forty-five degree angle behind. Used to get depth around down blocks. 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock (Punch Pull Step)- Lineman punches at 2 or 10 and sets up to come across the LOS at a forty-five degree angle. Used to set up the trap block.

Individual Blocks Down Block (Same Shoulder block) Used to block the first man on the line inside an adjacent lineman. Fire step to pull step down to inside with the inside foot, deliver a blow with the near shoulder and forearm (Aim at the hip) and drive the man down the line. Head should be on the back hip of the defensive lineman. If defense is penetrating use the GAP technique.

Gap Block  (Wrong or Opposite Shoulder block)

Used to block the man on the inside gap. Fire Step to pull step down inside with inside foot. Rip backside arm and leg through the defender. Deliver a blow with the far side shoulder and forearm, (Aim at the hip) getting head across the D-lineman’s belt. (Head cuts penetration) Finish down the line (when contact is made the blocker should try to get his hands on the defender de fender and lock and push him down the line). A good gap block will create dominos.

Fire Block 

Used to aggressively block a man on o n play side. Step with a fire step (6 inches inch es forty five degrees) to opposite shoulder of the defender. d efender. Deliver a blow with the opposite shoulder  and rotate shoulders and put camera to the hole. Key is to get head outside the defender  .

Reach Block 

We use this block when trying to reach a defender outside the blocker. Use the reach  block parallel to the LOS and reach the outside pad of the defender. If hard to reach, the  blocker can use a bucket step. It is crucial to get the opposite pad reached and the shoulders of defender turned. To avoid a holding call the blocker nee ds to get his hips outside of the defender’s defender ’s hips. This can be done by using an athletic cross over step instead of a traditional shuffle step and needs to be run downhill. If defender cannot be reached, kick him to the sideline. If defender is reading the tackle, then consider a down  block with the tackle and then log with the guard.

Log

The log block is used to log pinching and stationary defenders. Pull step at 3 or 9strike defender with opposite shoulder and then th en shot put with play-side shoulder and log. If  defender cannot be reached, kick him to the sideline. This is a great compliment to the trap if the trap defender is pinching or wrong arming and should be used on the run in a trap situation.

Trap Block 

Blocker is to punch pull at 2 or 10 allowing Gap or Down blocks to happen then the  blocker should cross the LOS. (It is critical that the trapping blocker crosses the LOS). Tell guards “Cross the nose of the football”. It is important to cross the LOS, because this  prevents the defender from slipping under the block. This is a wrong shoulder block, the  blocker should stay low and aim at the hip. The blocker should kick out “scoop out’ on contact. Tell Tell players to “scoop the defender out like an ice cream scoop”. If defender is  pinching, Log. If the center is uncovered then you can apply the “speed trap” technique, this is where the trapper takes his opposite foot and tries to step on the near foot of the center, this will motivate the center to hurry-up on his down block and will make the trap faster.

Superman

Backside penetration cut off block. This is also referred to as the “Cut block” or the Chop  block”. When a sweep or a power is away from a tackle this should be used to make fast flow defenders honest. The tackle leaves his feet and aims his oppsite shulder and forearm through the far knee of the defender. This block is best executed when the  blocker gets his head across; moreover, this block can eve n be followed through with a crab block, that is to say when contact is made the blocker block er goes to all fours and swivels his hips to the play and walks into the defender like a crab.

Touchdown Block - Used when we want to get an extra extra blocker at the point of attack  from across the field. Used mainly on Sweep where the OT will sprint across across field at the depth of the linebackers and kick out the cornerback. This is why it is important to

superman early in the game, as this will keep the backside defender honest and allow a tackle to get a DB from the opposite side of the formation, which can spring a big play, hence the title. Fold Block 

Down + Trap. In this illustration the man to the outside goes first with a gap block and the man inside performs the trap block. This is a great block to send a lead wing or  fullback through. Is a great compliment c ompliment to up-field ends trying to take away sweep an d/or  when tackles are pinching. If tackles are upfield rush use the Gap technique (Note: The gap technique is not as effective for this scheme as it allows for a DT to spin back into the hole.

Inside

Outside

GUT-Guard Under Tackle

The guard traps out and the tackle reaches in and up to backer. This is a great way to  blind side a middle backer and account for a pinching tackle.

Inside

Outside

TUG- Tackle Tackle Under Guard

Tackle blocks down and the guard reaches around up to a back er. er. This is a great way to take advantage of a 5-3 with an up-field end.

Inside

Outside

Odd or Nose (Double Gut) Odd front Good for a solid double team on a middle backer, can be used for draw and or counter action in the backfield.

Inside

Outside

Moses- Even Front Pinching tackles and Up field Ends, Tackle kicks out by taking first step inside and the blocking straight out and guard blocks down.

Inside

Outside

Trap Block- Use this block when tackles are standing their ground in double teams to take away off tackle plays or are up-field in p ursuit of sweep. If the tackle is inside the guard then a squash call can be made and the guard blocks the two down and the trap goes to the first player outside of the guard. If there is a nose then the guard should double team and work to the backer. Note: Tr Trap ap means tackles go to backers.

Squash against a one technique

Deuce- This is a play-side two on one block. The tackle takes a right foot on step left shoulder block to the left hip of the defender (this can be referred to as a post). The Guard

reach steps right and takes a right shoulder block to the left hip of the defender. As contact is made, both blockers should slide hips together and roll hips while moving feet. This is called locking the defender in the box, because he has a head of a blocker on either side and he cannot can not split the double team. Tell the blockers that the double team cannot get split and the way to do this is by a tight mesh at the hips, if there were a pillow  between them at their hips, it would not fall to the ground ground through entire block. If both defenders will take their knuckle and grab underneath the pad of the defender, this will  prevent him from falling to the ground before the linemen can get three feet of  movement. A great deuce block will not allow a backer to scrape over the top.(Note: For  varsity players, tell the tackle he is 100% drive an d the guard is 95% drive with his eye on the next backer inside. If that backer comes through the guard has to come off the deuce block and close the door. Younger players need to focus on driving together  without separation to the echo of o f the whistle.)

Scoop- Zone double team to protect backside gaps. Guard fire fire steps right into the gap and across the face of the defender. (If backer stunts “A” gap the guard has to take him) Tackle fire steps to reach steps right to the defender. It is the object of the tackle to run down Backside

Pla -side

hill through the gap and through the defender and knock the guard off the block to the next level. (If the backer blitzes “B” gap, the tackle has to take him).