O n behalf of Wittenberg University, we

would like to thank the AFCA for the

chance to present our outside zone play.
part-whole method. The base scheme is
learned, then followed by individual and
group drills. Lastly, the play is run as an
The Wittenberg
Outside Zone Play
We are truly honored by this opportunity offensive unit. This style of teaching allows
and hope some of our experiences can be for total understanding. Not only will play-
of help to your program. ers know their own assignments, they will
Wittenberg University has a long and sto- also know the assignments of their team-
ried tradition. Hall of Fame coaches Bill mates. This in turn will give your offense a
Edwards and Dave Maurer won five national better chance for success.
championships. Today, we are challenged not
only by those high standards but also by the Offensive Line Principles Joe Fincham
evolution of our game. No backs, no huddle, The outside zone is a frontside gap
and fast break offenses have made for an scheme. Each lineman is responsible from Head Coach
ever changing landscape in college football. his nose to the nose of the adjacent play-
While we have worked hard at changing side lineman. This definition will give your Wittenberg
with the times by adding formations, per- lineman a simple rule to help them under- University
sonnel groups and passing schemes, we stand the play.
have also tried to remember you win Next, we ask our linemen to adjust their Springfield, Ohio
games by being able to run the football alignment. We will tighten our splits to one
when it matters most. The play we turn to and a half feet and back them off the ball as
most in these situations is our outside zone far as possible. This does two things. It pre-
play. During the 2000 season, we ran this vents defenders from splitting our combina-
play on average more than times a game tion schemes, as well as giving our lineman
and for six yards a carry. Our starting tail- more time to adjust to stunting defensive
back, Casey Donaldson, had a spectacular fronts.
career due in large part to this play. He set
Scott Isphording
school and conference career rushing Two Man Schemes
marks with 5,112 yards. He was a three- If at all possible, we would like to work in
Offensive
time conference MVPand ranks among the pairs. This will allow our lineman to run off
Coordinator
NCAADivision III Top 25 all-time in rushing the ball in an aggressive manner and with-
yards, touchdowns, and scoring. out the worry of adjusting to slanting
defenses. While working in these pairs, the
Theory Behind Outside Zone lineman must only know if they are 1. cov-
1. Can be run versus any defensive ered or uncovered, and 2. frontside or
alignment. backside. These two rules will simplify
2. Can be used in a variety of formations things enough to allow your linemen to play
and personnel groups. aggressive football. The more players have
• Tight end play/split end play. to think about, the more passive they
• Two back – two receiver play/two back become.
– three receiver play. The basic assignment of the pairs will
• One back play. be to gain outside leverage on the down
3. Allows for personnel match-ups in defenders while getting second level
game plan. defenders on the ground. The concept of
4. Simple scheme – Allows players to be this will change if the pairs are frontside or
aggressive. backside.
5. Many different looks using same
scheme allows many repetitions for line- Frontside Pairs
man and backs. We ask our frontside pairs to work with
6. Get ball to best player on perimeter power in mind. In a perfect world, we will
quickly. double-team the down defenders off the
7. Do not have to be overpowering to ball into the lap of the linebackers. We want
have success. to create movement at the point of attack.
8. Limits blitz. The covered down lineman’s first step is
9. Wears down opponent. a drop step. It will be rapid in nature and his
10. Run game allows toughness to per- weight will be placed on his instep. With
meate the team in camp. this step, he will work for outside leverage
on the down defender. Outside leverage is
Teaching Style defined as playside hand in defender’s
All of our plays are taught in a whole- playside armpit with backside hand on

• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •

defender’s sternum. The wider the defend- push up to the linebacker. At the snap, because we are an I forma-
er, the deeper the drop step. His second • Versus a wide defender, adjust to the tion team, it is important for the fullback to
step is a power step through the crotch of linebacker. CHOP! (See Diagram 1a). take a crossover step initially so he can
the defender. It must also get up and down. • Versus a squat defender, push off cov- clear the pitch to the tailback. His aim point
This will maximize the movement of the ered lineman (See Diagram 1b). is one yard outside the butt of the tight end
defender. If the second step crosses over, • Versus inside slant, overtake the down (or end man on the line of scrimmage). He
the defender will flatten out the block. On defender (See Diagram 1c). Uncovered will read the block of the tight end to deter-
the third step, he will work to square the lineman is responsible for all gray areas. mine how he will attack the primary force
defender and drive off the ball. player. If the tight end reaches the end and
• Versus a wide defender or outside Backside Pairs does not allow penetration, he should con-
movement, the lineman may have to drive We ask our backside pairs to work with tinue outside and cut the outside leg of the
the defender outside. speed in mind. We want to be able to seal primary force player. If the tight end does
Diagram 1A off the backside pursuit and get the second not reach the end or gives up penetration,
level defenders on the ground. he should take it up inside and cut the out-
Our covered lineman wants to escape side leg of the primary force player or kick
from the down defender and chop the line- him out. If the primary force player is
backer. He will do so by taking a drop step across the line of scrimmage, he should
and ripping his backside shoulder and fore- kick him out.
arm through the defenders playside armpit. We try to put the receiver on secondary
His second and third step will be quick and support. His rule is “Bail — Block; Sit —
upfield. Safety.” Versus a two deep coverage, the
• Versus a playside slant, he will lock on. receiver pushes off the line of scrimmage
• Versus a squat defender, let the uncov- at the corner’s outside number while look-
Diagram 2A
ered lineman push you off to the linebacker. ing at the corner’s feet. If the corner does
Let the linebacker come to you and chop not bail or stops bailing after three steps
him. (Sits), the receiver plants off his outside
foot and cracks on the safety. If the corner
Diagram 1B
bails, the receiver should continue to
accelerate at the corner’s outside number.
The receiver should break down when the
corner’s feet stop or when he has broken
the cushion. Attack the outside number
• Versus a squat or backside slant, he will and fight to get hands inside while keeping
rip and chop the linebacker. hips and shoulders parallel to the end
zone. Versus a three deep coverage, block
Diagram 2B
the deep third. It is important for the receiv-
• Versus a slant defender, hand the er to stay up. Do not chop. The play takes
defender off to the uncovered lineman. too long to develop.

Diagram 1C
Tailback
It is important for the tailback to have
two gears. He must be patient initially, and
then be able to turn it on when he gets to
the line of scrimmage. His aiming point is
Our uncovered lineman will take a deep the outside foot of the tight end. This forces
drop step and chop any defender in his him to start out downhill in case the play
zone. He is responsible for anything that goes inside. After looking the pitch all the
runs between the covered down lineman way in to his hands, he should put the ball
The uncovered lineman’s first step is and himself. Nothing can split them. in his outside arm. This frees up his inside
also a drop step. It should be a quick up arm for a stiff arm move and helps protect
and down step with weight on his instep. Perimeter Blocking the ball. The tailback, similar to the fullback,
The depth of this step is adjusted to gain We try to give our perimeter blockers the should read the block of the tight end. A
outside leverage on the down defender. best matchups we can so they can make a good general rule for the tailback is to fol-
Again, the wider the defender, the deeper block that will help the play succeed. low your fullback. Once he gets to the line
the step. The next two steps will be on rail- Usually, this means we will have our full- of scrimmage, he needs to be able to dip
road tracks. He will eyeball the down back block primary force and the frontside inside to set up his perimeter blocks and
defender while feeling the linebacker. receiver block secondary force. It is impor- then accelerate back outside. He can only
When the third step hits the ground, he will tant that the fullback and receivers notice bounce the play in this fashion one time or
work to overtake the down defender or the coverage scheme presnap. he will get caught by backside pursuit.

• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •

 Quarterback
The quarterback has two very important
roles on this play. After reverse pivoting and
tossing the ball to the tailback, he needs to
see the tailback catch the ball and tuck it
away. If the tailback mishandles the pitch,
the quarterback should be there to recover
the fumble. Once he sees the ball secured
by the tailback, he needs to boot away hard
to control backside pursuit and set up boot
plays off the toss.
Diagram 3: Outside Zone vs. 4-3

Diagram 4: Outside Zone vs. 4-4 Diagram 5: Outside Zone vs. 50

Wittenberg’s use of the outside zone
play resulted in runningback Casey
Donaldson finishing his career with
5,112 yards and won three North
Coast Athletic Conference titles for the
Tigers. He ranks among the Top 25 in
Division III history in career rushing
yards, touchdowns and scoring.

Caution Your Team

About Player Agents
A problem for all coaches is the proliferation of agents and would-be agents who seek
to make agreements with players prior to the completion of their eligibility. The activ-
ity of these people has increased, and it is imperative that all of the consequences of
making an agreement with an agent are known by your players.

Contact with players by agents almost always is done without the knowledge of the
coach. Some agents openly admit they will continue to make contacts and agree-
ments with players before their final season has been completed.

This could lead to forfeiture of games. Some agents are advising players not to risk
injury by playing. Your players must be warned about this problem. Do it more than
once.

• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •