Maximizing Caleb Farris Using a Pin-and-Pull on Zone Runs

Instead of Western Michigan, I accidently loaded the Georgia Tech game film yesterday and I stumbled upon a very interesting development. It's been a challenge for the offensive line to generate much push and movement on zone runs. Part of that struggle stems from the difficult angle that an o-lineman must take to get his head past a defensive lineman who is not only closer to the path of the run at the snap, but who is generally quicker and more athletic. This requires the zone blocker to take a lateral or slight backwards step at the snap to improve the blocking angle. The "bucket step" helps the lineman improve the blocking angle, but it also means that contact is made with the defensive lineman in the backfield. Losing ground to gain it is effective if the blocker can get lateral movement and create a bubble between his man and the nearest secondary defender. If that gap doesn't appear, those blocks can often lead to a loss of yards. Coach Searels' effort to "bulk up" his linemen made those blocks a little more difficult to execute, but almost all the runs in the first couple of games besides counters involved zone blocking across the front.

Let's look at zone blocking scheme for an outside zone against a 4-3 under front. (Reminder, a 4-3 under means the strong side defensive tackle is playing a one-technique. 4-3 over means the weak side defensive tackle is playing a one-technique.)

The center has to snap the football, pull his arm back forward, step laterally, and either scoop the one-technique defensive tackle back to the inside or drive that defensive tackle into the sideline. This is a very tough assignment, compounded by the fact that the defensive tackle already is closer to the running back's path than the center is before the snap. Once the defensive tackle reads the outside zone, he is also going to be running at an angle away from the center.

Caleb Farris has struggled with executing this zone block, which isn't shocking given that the Hokies have played a series of outstanding defensive tackles and Farris began the season with a shoulder injury. Against Georgia Tech, Farris was much more effective because this zone technique was mixed with the "Roll-It" or "Pin-and-Pull" technique that Mason and I have discussed over the years.

When facing zone blocking teams, defensive linemen want to move laterally while maintaining their gap responsibility, to stretch out the play. The "Roll-It" technique uses that movement against the tackle. Let's see the Hokies use the Roll-It block to spring Shai McKenzie for a big play.

Everyone else zone blocks to the right, but watch right guard Augie Conte and Farris at center closely. Instead of stepping to the right, Conte blocks down on the defensive tackle, who is blindsided by the down block. He can't see Conte coming because he is looking at the ball. Farris pulls behind Conte and delivers a beautiful cut block on the linebacker. At Emory & Henry, we called this a "Roll-It" block. Most in today's coaching circles call this a "Pin-and-Pull" because the defensive tackle get "pinned" inside by the guard while the center pulls and cuts down the linebacker.

The execution here is fantastic across the line of scrimmage. McLaughlin and Rogers take a quick lateral step to the right, which forces the defensive end to widen with him. Conte traps the defensive tackle inside. Farris looks much more comfortable pulling behind Conte. The linebacker is the only player who can fill the gap created between Conte and McLaughlin, and Farris cuts him right to the ground. Gibson and Wang make sure there is not penetration from the back side, and McKenzie identifies the hole and explodes through it for a nine-yard gain.

While the offensive line didn't consistently dominate the line of scrimmage, generally when they utilized Pin-and-Pull blocking against the Yellow Jackets (which happened most often on sweeps from the shotgun with Trey Edmunds and counters by McKenzie), the Hokies were very effective running the football. While I don't expect the pure zone blocking plays to be abandoned, expect the Hokies to use more and more of this technique as the season progresses.