Zone Blocking, Part III – Proper Stances and Footwork

It doesn’t matter what scheme you run if your line isn’t fundamentally sound. In Part III of this series, we will cover the stances we use to develop our offensive linemen. As we master our techniques, the stance is the foundation we build great blocking on.  STANCE You cannot overestimate the importance of the stance. A poor stance equals a poor start.  Key Components We use both the three-point and two-point stances. Here are the key components of both stances:  Bunch your stance. We want a slightly tightened stance (feet under the armpits) to allow for controlled stepping. The proper foot alignment generates the proper footwork and the proper power.Balance your stance. A wide stance, or too much weight forward, will cause linemen to false step or hop, which doesn’t allow for controlled stepping. A balanced stance is the key (weight should be evenly distributed on