Whether we run Inside Zone or Outside Zone, when we play the smaller, quicker fronts their players seem to beat us to our spots. So for example with inside zone the linemen fire off the ball and depending where the D-line is lined up the linemen have certain assignments. There are usually more blockers than D-linemen. So for example there is a defensive tackle between the center and guard. At snap both the center and guard will fire off the ball and combo block the DT. Then the guard will leave the center solo and continue on to the second level to get hands on a linebacker. Now this is all determined by what type of front you are faced with. Sometimes the guard will be left to handle the DT while the center moves on to the second level.
Anywho, when we try to run it a few different things happen. Sometimes the linemen are slow getting to the second level and end up whiffing on the guy they needed to block, who shoots past them and blows the play up at the line of scrimmage. Sometimes the guard who is left 1v1 with a DT gets overpowered and pushed into the backfield causing the RB to have to stop his momentum and reroute, which gives the other defenders time to rally to the ball. So then what has to happen is the line has to maintain the doubleteam which allows the LBs to roam free and just scrape over the top of the play and meet the back wherever they are going.
If you just take some plays and watch the line its like Keystone cops. On any given play linemen are missing blocks, falling down, or just getting bullied backwards. Been going on for years now.
So let me give you an example below. We are going to run a variation of Inside Zone called Split Zone. In Split Zone the H back or Tight end fires across the formation to cut off the backside pursuit creating a natural cutback lane. Below is how it should be blocked vs the 5 man front Florida is in. You can see the TE at the top of the screen is supposed to come across the formation and kick out the backside DE. The OT has the DE. The LG has the DT in his B gap. The Center and RG are supposed to combo block the NT with the center trying to reach the playside LB. Then the RT and other TE combo block the DT in the C gap and then work their way to the OLB.
But here is what actually happens below. The TE tiptoes his way across the formation and blocks the backside DE, but because he was slow there is no cutback alley to run through. He needs to fly across with some aggression and a sense of urgency. OT has his man handled. Surprisingly so does the LG. Here is where it gets bad. The Center/RG are struggling with the NT and never come off him to get to the playside LB. The RT/TE combo is having communication errors. They fire off to doubleteam. The TE appears to be pushing him across the face of his RT, helping the defender into the backfield. Meanwhile the two LBs are just sitting there on the hole sipping a cup of joe waiting. Nobody has touched them. A comedy of errors. No one ever really came off a doubleteam, and we don't have breaking arm tackles, make your own yards kind of backs. So play gets a yard or two.
IZ.mp4
Keystone cops. There are way worse but I'm lazy. There are many great run schemes out there. Gus Mahlzan comes to mind. But they recruit for their philosophy.