Teaching the Running Back to Read 1 to 2 on Outside Zone

The outside zone play is a versatile concept that gives you the opportunity to attack multiple gaps of the defense using a wide angle. We want to be able to create vertical seams in the defense through horizontal movement. Our ultimate goal with the outside zone play is to get the ball to the perimeter. Once you establish that you can get the ball on then edge, you can get the defense flowing. This creates opportunities for the back to get north and south before getting to the edge. 

When I talk about outside zone at clinics, I get a lot of questions asking how we coach the running backs. Coaching the back is a vital component of having success with the outside zone. The back must understand his aiming point, the angle of his pads, the timing, and where his eyes should be. He has to know when to put his outside foot in the ground to get vertical, and he has to know when to take the edge. Our running backs coach at Estacado, Alfonzo Franklin, does an outstanding job of teaching our backs the proper vision points. 

When we installed outside zone in 2000, we told the back to run to daylight. Our backs with speed would race to the edge and usually win. What we found, however, was that we missed opportunities for explosive plays when we didn't get the box locked. What we mean by getting the box locked, is that the offensive line gets leverage on the defenders by getting to their outside bicep, essentially locking them inside. We made an adjustment to how we coached our backs, and it made all the difference. Once we made this adjustment, we increased our per play average on outside zone from 6.4 yards per play to 8.2 yards per play. 

Running Aiming Point

When we are under center or in the pistol meshing playside, the running back's aiming point is the outside leg of the tackle. We had the exact same aiming point on inside and outside zone. The back takes a zone step playside, comes to balance, and works to the outside leg of the playside tackle. 

 

If the back is in a sidecar position, he is going to be fast and flat, attacking the edge. We want him to accelerate across the toes of the quarterback, through the mesh. We tell him to take three steps through the mesh and three steps to decision. 

The path of the back is very important on all runs, but it is particularly important on our outside zone play. 

Coaching The Running Back's Eyes

The change we made was having our running back read what we called "1 to 2." This will determine whether the back was going to hit the edge, or hit downhill. And if he hit the play downhill, it made him always be right when he hit downhill. This gave them a definitive place to put their eyes, and helped us to have more consistent play. 

We identify the number 1 as the widest first level defender. The number 2 is the next first level defender inside the number 1. 

In the figure above, we are running outside zone to the right. The walked up outside linebacker is on the line. He is the number 1. The defensive end is the number 2. The running back must identify and know that he is reading one to two. 

In the figure above the defense is in a 4-2 look, with the defensive end in a 9 technique. He becomes number 1, and the defensive tackle is number 2. 

In the figure above, the offense is running inside zone to the left, away from the tight end. The defensive end is number 1, and the defensive tackle is number 2. Our rules for #1 to #2 were adaptable whether we ran the play to the tight end, or away from the tight end. This helped to simplify things for our running backs, regardless of what formation we were running our outside zone play from. 

Once the running back understands who number 1 and number 2 are, he can learn what he is reading. It is vital he has his eyes in the right place. We want him to have his eyes going from 1 to 2. We drill this into the running backs every day. His rules are simple:

• If 1 is in, I'm Out.
• If 1 is out, I'm In, My Eyes Go to 2. 
• If 2 is in, I'm Out.
• If 2 is out, I'm In.

As the back attacks, his aiming point, he is going to put his eyes on number 1. If number one is in, meaning we get him reached, the back is going to accelerate to the edge. He knows he is running outside. This is the easiest read for the running back. 

When we teach the running backs, the first thing we teach them is 1 being in. To create creases, we must force the defense to flow. We want them to know that we can take the edge, and force them to run. When they run, they create creases. 

Below is a video clip of #1 being in and the back hitting the edge. 

The tight end gets to the outside of the OLB who is number 1, and that gives the running back the edge. 

Below is another clip of #1 being in. The TE gets to the outside bicep of the OLB, creating an opportunity to get the running back to the edge. 

We want to use our outside zone play to get to the edge. When we can get our athletes on the perimeter, we will have more big play opportunities. 

What happens when #1 goes out? Is the play dead? That is what happened to us when we first installed the outside zone. We didn't give the back an option to put his foot in the ground and get vertical. We told him to win to the edge. Once we made an adjustment when #1 was stretching the play, we became more explosive. At one point we had worked on installing mid-zone, but with our #1 to #2 read on outside zone, we essentially gained the benefits of mid-zone without having to invest in the installation. 

When #1 is out, the running back gets his eyes to #2. The back knows he doesn't have the edge, and #2 will show him where the vertical crease will be. If #2 is out, the back will go inside of #2. If #2 is in, the back will go outside of #2. 

The back sees #1 is out, so he takes his eyes to #2. He sees #2 is out, so he hits downhill inside #2. The flow of the defense has created a crease where the play hits downhill. The play is hitting in the A gap, but the A gap is where the C gap was located presnap. It looks like the play hit hard downhill, but that is because of the horizontal displacement of the defense. 

Below is a video clip illustrating #1 being out and #2 being out. 

You can see, this creates a crease to hit downhill. The defense is flowing to take away the perimeter, and they are giving the offense a crease inside. This all is predicated with creating flow. 

Below is another clip of #1 and #2 being out. 

And one more...

And another...

As you can see, the defense is flowing fast to take away the wide action. This creates seams for the running back. 

Let's look at the next read. If #1 is Out, and the back takes his eyes to #2 and sees #2 in, the back will hit between #1 and #2. This often happen against under front defenses when we can the 1 technique reached, and against odd defenses with a 0 nose guard. 

The figure above illustrates when #1 is out and #2 is in. This gives us a crease between #1 and
#2. 

Below is a video example of #1 being out and #2 being in. When #1 is out and #2 is in, the back hits downhill between 1 and 2. 

Here is another clip with 1 out and 2 in. This is from a trips look where we have the #3 receiver working inside to account for the playside inside backer. This is a wrinkle that is good from 3x1 sets where #3 is uncovered. 

Here is another clip of #1 being out and #2 being in. This time it is to a 3 man surface. 

You can see from the video above that the read for the back allows you to add versatility to the outside zone play. You stress the defense, and force them to slow down their ability to flow to the edge. Anytime you can make defenders play slower, you are going to have more explosive plays. 

Whether you are man or zone blocking, the back must be able to force the defense to defend the edge. Once he forces them to defend the edge, the back can use his vision to find the crease when the edge player widens to take away the perimeter. Teaching your young running backs to read 1 to 2 will help them be able to better find the crease, and will help you to be more successful running this concept. It also will give them more concrete and specific coaching than simply saying run to daylight. 

I wish you the best as you prepare for the upcoming season. If you are looking for some resources that will help you in your preparation, I have put together some things that coaches at all level of football are using with their programs. Not only will these help you be more organized, they will save you valuable time on the weekends. 

A few years ago I was speaking at a clinic about our game planning and an FBS coordinator asked me after the talk to go through what we do. I shared with him our offensive game planning resource and he used it through the spring. He emailed me back that it was a game changer. It was an honor to have him use these documents. After speaking at clinics and hearing that more coaches didn't know where to start, I decided to make these available.

Here is a link to my offensive game planning documents: https://sellfy.com/p/AndN/ 

It includes everything from a scouting report template, to practice plans, to a two-sided color call sheet, and more! Each of the nine documents are fully editable and customizable! Order today and start preparing for your first game right now! At one time this was $99, but it is available right now for less than $13!

Here are a couple of screen shots to show you what our call sheet looks like: 

This shows you a small portion of it. It is a fully editable, customizable two sided call sheet. It gives you the ability to better organize and be prepared on game day. It helped us to be better play callers on game day. There are eight other fully customizable documents! Some of the top high school programs in the country use this, as do several college programs!

When I was a defensive coordinator we adapted this to our defensive preparation! 

Here is a link to the defensive game planning documents. It includes 12 fully editable and customizable documents. https://sellfy.com/p/AY1u/ These are what we used to post 6 shutouts when I was a defensive coordinator. Defensive coordinators at all levels of football are using this. Again, it is less than $13 right now!

And finally, I put together a special teams resource. This has everything you need, included drill tape, practice tape, and game footage. It includes teaching presentations and scouting forms just for special teams! https://sellfy.com/p/tJwz/ This helped us to build dominating special teams! 

I wanted these to be available at a very reasonable cost. These can help you to be more successful on the field and more efficient in the office! 

 Last year I got hooked up with CoachTube, and put together three courses for offensive football coaches. I put together two courses on RPO's, and a course on Building An Elite System of Communication. All of these courses will help you to score more points! 

https://coachtube.com/users/coachvint

All three of these courses are detailed, with everything you need to be more explosive and to score more points. 

The course on communication gives you a detailed approach to your gameday communication. I give you a system and a process to improve the quality of conversations, leading to improved play calling on game day. This course has received outstanding reviews from coaches at all level of football. A coach with multiple state titles told me this course helped them to be much more efficient and explosive this season. 

My two RPO courses take you through a systematic process of installing RPO's into your offensive system. RPO's put the defense in conflict, forcing them to defend all 53 yards of width and all 6 skill players every single play. I not only give you a system, but I teach you the methods to develop your own RPO concepts. 

https://coachtube.com/users/coachvint

New Book

Over the last several months, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and wrote a new book about faith and purpose. The book is available as a paperback on Amazon, and as an eBook for the Kindle App. The cool thing about the Kindle app is that you can read the book on any device. I invite you to read it, and discover the power you receive when you make a decision to walk with the Lord. Here is a link to the book: Finding Faith

Since publishing the book, I have received numerous texts, calls, and emails, from people who are going through similar trials and tribulations. They were feeling many of the same things I was feeling. The found comfort in the book. They also found they had a desire to change and to live better. They wanted more joy. 

I would invite you to read the book and discover the possibilities that God has planned for your life. 

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

This year I took a huge step to get out of my comfort zone. 2020 has been a really tough year. The world has faced adversity and loss, schools were closed, businesses were closed, and sports were shut down. People had financial loss, job loss, and loss of loved ones. To say it has been a tough year for most is an understatement. My own family faced huge adversity this year. But through adversity, we find opportunity. 

I realized that I had not been living right. I had lost my purpose. In the pursuit of wins on the football field, I lost who I was and why I coached. I began to examine who I was and who I wanted to be. I had become arrogant and self-centered. We were not having the success we had expected to have on the field, and I started to feel like I was a failure. Not only was I a failure on the field, but I was failing as a father and husband. 

My obsession with winning had made me lose focus on what really mattered. I decided it was time for change. It was time to change who I was. It was time to become the man I really wanted to be. I began to seek answers to the problems I was facing. Those of you who know me, know that I lived hard. I lived a lifestyle that I am not proud of. And worst of all, I led others down the wrong path. 

As I began to transform from who I was to who I wanted to be, I put my words on paper. The words ended up being a book on my search for purpose. Finding Faith was published the Sunday after Thanksgiving. 

What was missing in my life was having a faith in God. I had strayed so far from Him, that I didn't believe I was worthy of His love. I didn't believe I was worthy of the salvation we received from Jesus Christ dying on the cross. What I learned is that all of us are worthy of His love. All of us are worthy of salvation. While we may stray from God, He never strays from us. In fact, He does the opposite. He seeks us. He seeks our love. He wants us to build a relationship with Him? 

How do we build that relationship? First, we talk to Him through prayer. Praying is something I had done in times of need, but I had not prayed to form a relationship. I had to pray consistently, each day, regardless of circumstance. Second, I had to read the bible. I didn't know where to start reading, so I just started. I started with the writings of Paul. 

The apostle Paul had gone through his own transformation. He was once Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted Christians. Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus with arrest warrants for Christians when he was knocked down by a bright light. That bright light was followed by a voice. It was the voice of Jesus asking Saul why he persecuted Him. He told Saul to go to Damascus where a man would meet Him. Saul then became Paul, who wrote much of the new testament. 

Paul's writings are very easy to read. They cover everything from how to live, to how to handle adversity, to how to follow Jesus. He gives instructions on how to become a man of God who loves Jesus Christ. Paul's writings reintroduced me to the amazing gift of salvation. Paul talked about having joy through adversity and trials. Adversity and trials produce endurance and perseverance. Adversity prepares us for something greater God has planned for us. And when we come through adversity, we can then help others through adversity they face. 

As I began to change my attitudes and behaviors, and put God first in my life, I started to live a life of joy. I began to realize that God has been working in my life this entire time, but I hadn't let myself form that powerful relationship. God has given me so many blessings, and looked upon me with favor. The problem was, I became arrogant. I thought every success was my doing. As I look back, I see the power of God, and how he provided the path. 

God has made each and every one of us perfectly. He has given us talents. He has given each of us a purpose. The talents he gave us fit perfectly to His purpose for our lives. He wants us to impact others, and to love others unconditionally. 

God gave me a teacher's heart. He put me here to make an impact. He gave me the ability to build relationships with people, and to get them to see the greatness they have inside. To use these gifts as He intended, I have to put Him first in my life. 

I now live with a three pronged purpose. I want to live a Godly life, where my life becomes a testimony for others to see God's power and love. Second, I want to be a Godly husband. Third, I aspire to be a Godly father. I want to be the spiritual leader of my family, showing them unconditional love. 

I don't know where you are in your life right now, but I will tell you that God has a purpose for your life. And that purpose is far beyond anything you can imagine. God created you for something very special. If you seek Him, He will reveal your purpose to you. 

When you choose to put God first, your problems will not go away. What you will learn, however,  is that many of our problems are actually blessings. The adversity we face isn't happening to us, it is happening for us. God is working in my life through every single event. Everything that is happening is for His purpose. 

Once I realized that, life changed. My attitude changed. My behaviors changed. I was a better father and husband. I was a better teacher and coach. I began to live with a joy that nothing in this world can break me. 

Sometimes we get to such a low point that we just feel broken. We feel like nothing we can ever do will make things right. There is one person who can pick up the pieces. That person is our Father in Heaven. He will put us back together, and he will put us back together so much better than we ever have been. 

In Finding Faith, I write about the steps I have taken to change my life. I talk about how to pray, how to read scripture, and how to make monumental change. I give you some tools you can use to live a life far beyond anything you have ever thought possible. I wrote the book to make an impact on others, and show them there is a better way. 

The book is available as a paperback on Amazon, and as an eBook for the Kindle App. The cool thing about the Kindle app is that you can read the book on any device. I invite you to read it, and discover the power you receive when you make a decision to walk with the Lord. Here is a link to the book: Finding Faith

Since publishing the book, I have received numerous texts, calls, and emails, from people who are going through similar trials and tribulations. They were feeling many of the same things I was feeling. The found comfort in the book. They also found they had a desire to change and to live better. They wanted more joy. 

I would invite you to read the book and discover the possibilities that God has planned for your life.