Alex Gibbs

INSIDE ZONE

1. Running the Football is an attitude.

You can run into 8th man sometimes, but it is impossible to run into 9 men.
If a team is committed to stopping the team, you have to be able to throw the
ball.
If a team plays 2 deep against you and you can not run the ball, you are not a
running team, you are not tough enough.
Once you get your opponent beat, then you can run it into as many of your
opponent as you want.

2. The chemistry of the OL is more important than any plays.

You must build a unit.
IF you are going to make a championship run, the OL must be close and
committed to each other.
They must have a bond.
No clear way to do it, but if has to be done.
Must listen to your guys.
Never let your group be blamed, unless you take some blame.
You don’t have to be liked, but you have to make them better.

3. Tight Zone:
Can be run either strong or weak and the RB is in a roll back position.
The backside has a little different rule because of the rollback or cutback.
The RB reads the 1st down lineman past the OC, a shaded NT does not count as
the a read.
If the 1st DL past the center goes wide or sits, you cutback.
If the read goes down, read the next man out.
You must coach the runner, if he reads it wrong and it gets 5 yards, don’t worry.
Plant cross over make a read and go.
Back foot never crosses over in IZ (OL).
If the OL has not made contact with the defensive player on the 2nd step it is time
to get to the LB.
If a team is playing tight run more WZ if they are playing loose run more TZ.
Set the RB at 7.5 yds.
If you run strong, put the FB weak.
Run the play with much variation with the FB and the TE, run it either way with
the FB and TE in different positions.
Always put your WR’s on the safeties, make the corners tackle the RB.
When no FB, make the WR account for his man.
Favorite formation to run TZ.

It gives you the ability to do many different things with your WR’s, can create
many different looks.

The first thing that you want to teach the RB is to look and see if the DE is inside
the TE on the backside. IF we are running right, find the left DE.
 E

If the DE is inside the TE, the RB knows the roll back (cutback) is going outside
the TE.
When you get this cutback, you get a big play.

When the DE is outside the TE, the cutback will be inside, usually off of the OG.

The first player past the OC is still the primary read, but the backside pre-read
shows where the cutback will be if the front side falls apart.

Gibbs’ top 3 plays:

#1-Wide (Outside) Zone Strong
#2- Wide Zone Weak
#3- Tight Zone Weak

Tight Zone Weak is #3 because:

a. it covers more ground
b. it covers more problems.
 c. It is the #1 red zone play
d. It is the #1 four minute play.
e. It runs away from $.
f. Great from every formation.

Tight Zone weak starts with the FB blocking the WLB.

If the WLB is on the ball the FB must get flexed because it is probably going to
be a blitz.

OL Splits
Start with 18 inches.
Will adjust the TE sometimes.
Guards put their hands on the shoestring of the OC.
Tackles have to be equal to the OG’s.
 W M S

E N T E

Against this defense the WOT will widen out another 12 inches, making the B
gap bigger.

Tight Zone Strong Man

FS
SS

W M
C C

E T N E S

Man call puts your backside on man blocking, FB goes WLB.

This creates a good cover 2 play action pass, can put the FB down the middle of
the field or the TE.
Backside Blocking of a Rollback (Cutback) Play
Tight Zone Weak

FS
SS

W M
C C

E T N E S

The FB reads the DT just like the TB for his lead block. If the DT sits or goes
wide go inside, if DT goes in, go outside.

FS
SS

W M
C C

E T N E S

This is the combo block that the “savage” cutting occurs in the Broncos running
game.
 FS
SS

W M
C C

E T N E S

If the SS is out of the box the OL man block on the backside.

FS

W M SS
C C

E T N E S

If the SS is in the box the OL must combo up to the SS.

 FS SS

W M S
C C

E T N E

Tight Zone Weak

Zone Concept
Why?
No negatives. RB must push the ball upfield.
QB has to be able to flip the play.
Have to have a plan to take care of the Safeties cheating into the box.

FS

W M S
SS
E T N E

Would not want to run Tight Zone Right, the easiest thing would be to flip this
play over.
 FS

W M S
SS
E T N E

Another thing that you can do is motion a slot over to take car of the safety and
still run Tight Zone Right.

KEEPER
QB must go away from the zone so that the defense “keeps” honest.

FS SS

W M S
C C

E T N E

QB can run off of keepers and you get great play actions.

FORCE
The ability to put the FB strong in front of the ball.
Want to run into
8 man fronts
four minute offense
coming off of the goalline
red zone
 FS C

W M SS
C

E T N E S

Tight Zone Strong vs an 8 man box strong.

FS C

SS W M
C

E T N E S

Tight Zone Strong vs an 8 man box weak. The OL make a call putting the combo
blocks on the backside LB’s and the FB forces on the Mike.
 FS C

W M SS
C

E T N E S

This is another call that can be made that puts the playside combo on the SS and
FB forces on the M, can screw up the read of a dominant MLB.

Running Tight Zone to a Shade:

If you can keep the shade from penetrating, stay with your base rules, if you can
not stop the shade from benefiting, ?pull? the OG and put the OT on a base
block.

N E

If your RB starts jumping to try and get into the roll back, it is because your
center is not getting it done and is giving to much penetration.

BACKSIDE OF THE TIGHT ZONE

 M

N E

On the backside the OL steps at the DL and punches then goes to the LB. The
helping OL then drives the DL where ever he can. Called a Ricochet

N T

Another line call that switches blocking combo that really screws with a 4-3 MLB.

BLITZ BEATER PLAY:

 FS

W M SS
C C

E T N E S

When you see blitz to your force, you can check to this Wide (outside) Toss and
hit a big play.

RB’s Steps in Tight Zone:

Onside step, slight cross over, plant and cut.

Some General Ideas On Teaching:

Must have a consistent way of communicating on the OL.
If they communicate you can find 5 guys that block, hold, fight, bite, and have a 0
negative plays.
The center sets the inside zone by identifying the MLB or the DL who is his man.
OL must come off the ball with elbows tight to their body and your blocking
becomes better and you get less holding calls, not matter how bad your feet are.
Beat the crap out of your OL and then rebuild them and you can make them
good.
Don’t worry about being popular.