How to run traditional inside zone

 Inside zone has maybe come as popular or as used as the power run play. It has been ran for many many years, but started to become popular with more teams getting into the "spread". It has been tweaked and adapted over the years. We will talk about how traditional inside zone was ran when it first was about, and how it still can be ran today. 

Traditional inside zone was ran to block exactly how it sounds, zones. Normally in gap runs or "man" blocking, you are blocking a man. You are pointing out exactly who you are responsible for. In zone run, you are blocking a defender in your area. So, you may not block the same person if the same zone run, in the same formation, is called twice in row. 

For inside zone right, the play is going to the right. The Running back usually aims for the inside leg of the guard the play is going. Blocking wise, the offensive lineman would step to the direction the play is going. So, inside zone right the line is taking a lateral step right and then getting upfield if there is no defender in the area that they are responsible for. If there is a defender head up or to the gap the play is going, that is who they are picking up. 

Inside zone left, the opposite is happening. Now the line is taking a lateral step to the left and blocking the first threat in their area. The running back is aiming for the inside leg of the left guard. If no one is in their area, they move on until someone shows up. 

To help make more gaps to run for the RB, you could add a tight end on the line of scrimmage. He would follow the same rules. For inside zone right, he would also take a step laterally to the right and block anyone in that area or move on to find someone who shows up. 

With the tight end on the line, you can run the zone play away from him as well. Make sure to not in the end if possible, and take their lateral steps to the left and find work. 

Even with running traditional inside zone, you still do not want to hit the back side defensive end. This is why is called a zone read play. The QB will read the defensive end and make a decision on whether or not to keep the ball or hand it off. If the defensive end squeezes in hard, he will keep the ball and become a runner. If the end sits, he hands it off and fakes the run. This keeps the box balanced with the QB reading the defensive end. 

Sometimes, traditional inside zone is still ran this way, all depending on how the defense is lined up. It is a effective run play to keep things easy on the offensive line. It also lets your running back be an athlete and either run downhill, or make a cutback to get a big gain in the run game. 

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