Inside zone

Inside zone is the most common run scheme in football. Every offensive lineman takes a playside step and the line works in tandem — covered linemen and uncovered linemen pair up on combo blocks, driving the down defenders before one climbs to a linebacker. The running back reads the blocks and cuts off the first daylight. It rewards linemen who can move in unison, stay square, and time their climbs — five guys thinking as one. The cousin scheme is outside zone, which stretches the same idea laterally to the edge.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 34 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

Outside zoneO-Line

A run scheme where all blockers step laterally to playside, stretching the defense to the edge.

Combo blockO-Line

Two linemen briefly working together on a single defender before one releases to the next level.

ClimbO-Line

When one lineman in a combo releases up to the second level to block a linebacker.

Reach blockO-Line

A block where the lineman gets his head past the defender's playside shoulder to seal him.

A gap (gap lettering)Both sides

The gap between center and guard — first letter in the gap-lettering system that names every hole up front.

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