Zone Blocking in the Option Defense

For teams that run an option offense, zone blocking is often a key to making it work effectively. We talked with Brian Hughes, offensive coordinator at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY, for a detailed explanation of the strategy and X’s and O’s of zone option blocking. Building Blocks Hughes emphasized that he didn’t come up with these schemes by himself. He worked off the ideas of Jim McNally, offensive line coach of the Buffalo Bills; Doug Marrone, offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints; George DeLeone, offensive coordinator at Temple University; and Bill Muir, offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “The initial teaching is zone play itself,” Hughes said. “We began with our quarterback under center and then taught the technique to the front, running a split back zone. The reason it’s good to start in this way is that you’re taking young