Inside Zone: Teaching Covered and Uncovered Principles

Inside zone lives or dies on whether a lineman knows he is covered or uncovered and what that means on the snap. Chad Gehring, the offensive line coach at Evangel University, teaches the basic inside zone block against every type of down defender, then builds it into combination blocks with the footwork and leverage points that get linemen climbing to linebackers on time.

What you'll learn

• The benefits of covered and uncovered applications of the inside zone scheme
• Proper technique on the basic inside zone block versus every down defender
• Covered and uncovered blocking fundamentals, defined so players can apply them
• The principles of building a combination block
• Inside zone blocking combinations across the front
• Technique for the uncovered lineman duck walking to the linebacker
• Footwork and leverage points on the defender
• Inside zone coaching points to carry into practice

Who it's for

High school and college offensive line coaches and run game coordinators who run inside zone, or who want to add it. The rules are taught by defender alignment, so they apply whether you block it from spread sets or under center.

About the coach

Chad Gehring coached the offensive line at Evangel University.

On-field technique demonstration with coaching points called out. Part 3 of Coach Gehring's four-part series on offensive line play.