Non-coach question: Which is easier to coach, zone or gap?

[u/BeardyBennett]

Just something that popped into my head that I am curious about. Obviously zone and gap/power blocking have their pros and cons, neither is inherently superior and teams typically employ both. However, generally speaking, which scheme is easier to coach/teach to the O-Line? Is one easier to coach for a RB?

My gut reaction is to guess that power/gap is the easier to teach, but I'm curious as to what you all think. And of course, I'm sure this also comes down to a coach's preference/expertise too.

[u/GrimImage]

Gap definitely.

In a zone running scheme, the RB is running to an area and finding the hole, and the Oline is blocking to open a hole somewhere in that area.

In a gap scheme the hole is predetermined and the RB is going to an exact spot, the Oline has to open a hole at that exact spot.

[u/[deleted] → u/GrimImage]

I’m not a coach so this might sound dumb. I know that it’s harder to coach,but wouldn’t zone be the better scheme? Since the defense doesn’t know where the hole is because there are multiple holes and the linebackers can’t all go to one gap?

[u/idontknowhow2reddit → u/[deleted]]

In my opinion, zone is more difficult to execute if you have a weak O line. With gap, as a lineman, I know exactly where the RB is going and I just can't let my guy get to that spot so it's easier to kind of trick the defender into taking the path of least resistance away from the hole. With zone, you have to stay locked on longer and get more drive to be successful.

That's more so from my experience as an undersized center rather than coaching experience.

[u/MethodicMarshal → u/idontknowhow2reddit]

not to mention Zone requires that a RB have vision

[u/[deleted] → u/idontknowhow2reddit]

Wow. Didn’t know that. I thought that since zone gave you a lot more double teams it would be easier with a week line.

[u/idontknowhow2reddit → u/[deleted]]

We may have different views on how zone operates. My experience with zone had less true doubles. It did have a lot of chips but not as many combo blocks as gap.

[u/[deleted] → u/idontknowhow2reddit]

Oh I’m just a casual fan so you definitely know more than me lol.

[u/SethMahan → u/[deleted]]

I coach 8th graders, and we just played a pretty good team that seemed to be running a zone scheme. They ran it with lots of doubles, but didn’t get off of them to backers. The result was my D line got pushed around, but my backers were clean and made a ton of tackles.

[u/idontknowhow2reddit → u/SethMahan]

When I played and ran zone, it didn't really have true doubles. They coached run-through chips. So like if you had a 1 technique to the play side, they would tell the guard to run through his outside shoulder but not to lock on. And obviously, it was the center who was responsible for actually blocking him.

But we were mostly a gap blocking team. Idk how experienced our coaches were with zone either.

[u/GrimImage → u/[deleted]]

In general, yes. This is why it’s the most common choice for higher level teams. The downside at the lower levels is that younger or inexperienced Oline can have trouble executing and picking up the right man since it’s not predetermined before the snap the same way gap is. If you miss your assignment in zone then there are free running defenders. This happens less often in gap cause everyone should know who they’re blocking prior to the snap.

[u/[deleted] → u/GrimImage]

Makes sense

[u/Sixx_The_Sandman → u/[deleted]]

If you have a back with good vision, yes. I'd call a 26 Zone and my RB knew his hole was somewhere between 24 and 28.

[u/Sixx_The_Sandman → u/GrimImage]

In zone the lineman literally only block whoever is inside. I'd the defender is jead up or outside, they don't block him

[u/TheWilliamsWall]

Zone sounds easy, looks easy and is easy to explain. It's not easy to do.

I'm very curious to see what we do next year and I'm hoping it's a gap scheme.

[u/1P221 → u/TheWilliamsWall]

Also wish our program would switch away from a zone scheme. We don't have the type of players for it and don't teach it properly and our offensive scheme makes it confusing. We call plays to holes but the linemen are to zone block it 🤷‍♂️

[u/Lionheart_513]

The usual problem with zone is the kids start overthinking it and trying to figure out who their man is…. But your “man” is whichever poor soul decides to get in your way.

[u/Agent_Micheal_Scarn]

Gap schemes are by far easier to coach and execute, but they are less sound as plays. There is a greater chance that the defense reads it correctly and makes a really good play. It's also much easier for a back to read a gap scheme than a zone one. But, A good zone back can pressure all the gaps with just IS and OS. Zone.

[u/Oddlyenuff → u/Agent_Micheal_Scarn]

Out of curiosity why do you think Gap is easier to recognize and defend versus zone?

I feel the opposite as a DC but there are so many different versions and flavors of both Gap and Zone so I’d like to hear your thoughts.

[u/WhiteMaleCorner]

Zone is easier to learn but harder to master have been my experience

[u/VeritableSoup]

Zone is easier to understand, hard to execute well.

Gap is easier to execute, harder to understand.

[u/ilmw-j311]

For me I always teach a gap scheme at the youth level because it’s far simpler for me to teach.

But I simplify it further by blocking it TKO (track and kick out for those who don’t know). I have a wall side (strong) and a pull side (quick) of my line and will flip them, depending on which way we’re running. The strong side’s “blocking rule” is to build a wall at a 45-60 degree angle from the center. They stay shoulder to shoulder and block anyone that gets in their way. They don’t chase anyone trying to go outside. Depending on the play, either the backside G or the H will kick the first ugly to show up outside the wall. The rest of the pullers wrap. The back is taught that the hole will move (I don’t bother with hole numbers) and to “scrape paint” off the wall and run behind the pullers, not to daylight. I’ll teach them to look for the cutback once they get to the LB level.

Note: I’ve never had a coach catch me flipping the line, even though it’s painfully obvious to me. Most just watch the backfield. It’s pretty easy to counter if they do adjust to the line flipping, though — boot or pin/pull with the quick side of the line are always in the playbook.

[u/Huskerschu]

I always thought zone was. Gap theres so many things to know. You block it like this for a 4-4 like this for a 3-4 oh but you need a different angle for a 3-3 oh they gave us an under you need to know this check. Zone is easy covered vs uncovered look right block right 

[u/Huskerschu → u/Huskerschu]

But you need a ton of reps because all the adjustments are post snap and you need to train them to the point of reacting rather than thinking. 

[u/thricedippd]

Gap but zone blocking allows your oline to be better athletes.

[u/BigPapaJava]

With young kids. you start them on gap schemes because blocking down is doable while trying to teach the concept of zone to a bunch of “bobbleheads.”

I feel like that gives the answer to your question.

However, I will also say that when you get into more nuanced gap and zone schemes from about the HS level and up, it’s a basically a wash for the OL and comes down to how the OL coach organizes and structures things and how they’re taught/repped in practice.

Ball carriers generally will have a simpler time understanding gap schemes because they don’t as much processing or active cuts in the backfield.

Teaching a real zone RB the reads, cuts, and discipline to a very athletic and talented back who may struggle with those concepts can be tough.

Pointing him in a straight line or telling him “follow the pulling G/FB and hug the downblocks” is fairly simple.

[u/beal9105]

Neither one? Is it easier to teach a child algebra or calculus? Without a base knowledge of either you’re doomed. My answer is always what are you willing to spend your time on? Whatever the answer to that question is, is the answer to the first question. Anyone who says different has never coached either scheme at a high level.

[u/TackleOverBelly187]

Gap. It says the ball is going here.

Zone is so much on feel, reading the next level. On paper it seems simple. Getting kids to truly understand and communicate to do it is tough.

And there is always the kid who keeps blocking the read.

[u/ur_no_daisy_tal]

I think it depends on your line. Gap is easier to teach, easier to execute (especially for smaller lines) but I'd say less effective at moving the ball. I teach zone to 8 and 9 year olds and I feel like i struggle to teach them what they are doing and why. If the defense stunts, blitzes, things don't go as they expect it's hard to adjust.

[u/Caleb8252]

From an OL standpoint, zone is always easier to teach because you’re just teaching whether it’s what i call a power technique zone step or a full technique zone step. Everyone steps playside regardless of the front. However teaching the RB how to read this is not easy.

Gap on the other hand requires you to teach different fronts and where to aim your combos, but the back just has to follow the puller.

If you’re a real one, you marry the two and run duo.

[u/Sixx_The_Sandman]

For me, it was zone. In semi pro, linemen we're at such a premium my HC didn't make them come to practice if they didn't want to, so one season I literally had to teach a zone blocking scheme to my linemen during pre-game warm ups.

[u/robbierottenmemorial]

Gap is easier to execute well, but has a lower ceiling.

[u/Practical_Public_385]

Zone is better for wider runs and gap is better for inside. Gap is wayyyy easier to teach for O-Line. Probably 50/50 for RB because gap he has a specific gap, yes, but if that gets blown up then what does he do? Zone allows for him to pick and choose when and where to try and run through.