Quote:I wasn't really defending a Zone Blocking Scheme as much as I was pointing out that a step to the side is an indication of a lack of aggressiveness. The step to the side is referred to as a "load" step by line coaches and it's not exclusive to ZBS teams. I've coached it for ZBS but I've also coached it for Gap - On - Linebacker (GOL) blocking -- my personal preference for an approach -- Gap- On -Down (GOD), and Severe Angle Blocking (SAB).

 

What the load step does is it aligns the blocker to the playside of the Defender and sets the blocker up to deliver his punch to the side of the Defender. With this first step, the Blocker moves himself to the play and seals off the Defender with his own body. As the Defender reacts to the blockers movement, he'll step towards the blocker and into the punch. The load step is a short -- about six inches -- quick step that loads up the blockers body so that he can deliver as much force as possible since, ostensibly, his knees are bent, his back is straight, and his head is up. His body is in the best position to deliver a blow and he's delivering it to the side of the defender.

 

Ironically enough, in the Lombardi YouTube clip above, there are a lot of similarities between his Packer Sweep and Gus Malzhan's Shotgun Buck Sweep shown below.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCXR5cUDmrU

 

Malzahn, who coaches Tre Mason, pulls both Guards in his Offense and leads them around the playside in front of the runner. At the 2:07 mark of the Lombardi video, you can see where he is pulling both guards to the weakside to lead the play around the edge.

 

I guess my point here is that the side step is not a sign of lack of aggressiveness; it's a sign of coaches studying kinesiology and body mechanics and putting their players in the best position possible for success.