W e began our football program in 1987
with a run-oriented wishbone offen-
sive attack. Over the past 14 years we
have gradually spread things out, moved to
a predominantly “I” attack, done away with
the tight end position, and worked hard to
develop an effective passing game.
Though we have made numerous adjust-
ments in our formations and within our
passing game, we have maintained our
commitment to option football. (mid-line,
inside veer, and speed option). It is our
desire to have a balanced (50 percent run
— 50 percent pass) offensive attack. We
believe that we can (and must) do both
effectively in order to be successful and
reach our goals.
Our total offensive philosophy (running
and passing) is predicated on creating
blocking angles. We use multiple forma-
tions and numerous types of motion in
order to create these angles. We feel that
these angles give us an advantage in exe-
cuting our offensive attack.
From the prospective of an offensive
line coach, implementing this philosophy is
truly a process. We begin every spring and
fall practice season stressing basic funda-
mentals and techniques. Even with our
seniors, we start all over, beginning with
how to get into a properly balanced stance.
My year begins with making a list of all the
things that we want to accomplish during
that particular season and we work our way
down the list until our offensive lineman
have mastered the necessary skills. The
list includes: stances, alignments, tech-
niques, fundamentals, and numerous
blocking combinations.
I believe that it is also very important to
work on the mental aspect of offensive line
play. Offensive lineman accumulate no
major statistics, receive few accolades,
and get precious little recognition, yet I
want them to know that they are the most
important element of the game. The effec-
tiveness of the offensive line sets the
tempo of every game. We feel that positive
motivation is critical to help an offensive
lineman understand their role and to devel-
op confidence.
Early in the season we spend a great
deal of time mastering the techniques of
our basic drive block (stance, start, angle,
chutes, dummies, sleds, and live work.)
Everything else that we do in our option
game and in our complimentary running
game begins from good drive blocking
techniques. I also differentiate between a
• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •
power drive block and a control drive block,
with the situation dictating the technique to
be used. When it is fourth and one we want
Angle Blocking in an
Option Offense
a low, tough, power drive block, with a sec-
ond and eight situation, we stress a con-
trolled drive block.
Beginning from a well-balanced three
point stance, the drive block starts with an
angle step at the hip of the defender. Our
young men are taught to establish an aim-
ing point by drawing a line from their big toe
to the hip of the defender. We always want
this first step to be short, forward, and pow-
erful. In the power drive the emphasis is on
low powerful shoulder contact and in the
control drive block the emphasis is on hand
contact and control. With both techniques
we emphasize coming off the ball low, with
a flat back and on the rise as contact is
made. The feet must keep moving and
turning the buttocks to the hole is also
emphasized — this is especially true with
the control drive block. Everything we do
with our offensive line is predicated on
mastering these two blocking techniques.
Angles are also crucial in our offensive
blocking scheme as we fold block to the
backside, within our combination and chip
blocks, blocking the linebacker's and releas- Haywood Riner
ing downfield to block on the backside.
As we put together the pieces that make Offensive Line Coach
up our offensive line blocking philosophy,
our young men know that they are filling Campbellsville University
their “tool box.” This tool box will contain
the fundamentals and techniques that they Campbellsville, Ky.
and their teammates need to carry out their
assignments. Mastering their tool box also
develops confidence in our lineman, both
as individuals and as a unit that must work
together. During a game I listen to our play-
ers' input and suggestions, as together we
make necessary adjustments.
The approach that our offensive line-
man takes to the line of scrimmage reflects
our commitment to using blocking angles.
Our lineman begin from a pre-stance posi-
tion, before being set to fire off the line of
scrimmage. This allows our young men to
read the defense and make the calls and
adjustments that they feel are necessary to
carry out their assignments. (We do oper-
ate our shot-gun pass series from the pre-
stance position.)
Our expectations of our offensive line-
man are as follows:
• Know the play.
• Know your assignment.
• Read the defense (man over, man
right, man left).
 • Pull the correct “tool” out of the box.
• Communicate with your teammates.
• Know the snap count.
• EXPLODE...DRIVE...FINISH.
Proper alignment is another element that
is vital to the proper execution of our
offense, especially with the option phase of
our game. Our guards always maintain a
two foot split in order for our fullback to have
a constant take-off point in our option. The
tackles adjust their splits from three to five
feet in order to create the best possible
blocking angles and running lanes.
While we also seek to create good
blocking angles in our companion running
plays and in our passing game, for the pur-
pose of this article I will focus on our inside
veer option, which we run to both the
strong and weak sides. As stated earlier,
we run our option from numerous forma-
tions and in combinations with several
types of motion in order to set up maximum
blocking angle advantage.
The Inside Veer Option
To the weak side we usually see a one
technique, off-set nose or a defender lined
up in the A gap. Blocking assignments are
as follows:
On-Side Tackle: The first man lined up
head up to outside on the line of scrim-
mage is let go. The tackle works the split
from 3-5 feet to create a maximum seam. If
the defensive end pinches, he is blocked
by the tackle, otherwise the tackle rips
through the inside hip of the defensive end
to block the linebacker from the head-up to
inside-usually the middle linebacker (he
never chases a linebacker outside).
On-Side Guard: He has the angle to
block down on the inside defensive lineman
(usually a one technique).
Center: His first step is playside to block
the middle linebacker to the backside line-
backer.
Backside Guard: Blocks base up on
two or three technique.
Backside Tackle: While still working his
splits, takes a sharp angle to zone through
and block downfield on the frontside (he
must be sure that the backside defensive
end does not pinch inside.) (See Diagram
1).
To the strong side we usually see a
"two" or "three" technique. Blocking
assignments are as follows:
On-Side Tackle: The first man lined up
head up to the outside on the line of scrim-
mage is let go. The tackle works the split
• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •
Diagram 1 Diagram 3
from three to five feet to create a maximum
Diagram 4
seam. If the defensive end pinches, he is
blocked by the tackle or if the linebacker
steps up he is blocked by the tackle.
Otherwise he is responsible to help the
guard block the inside down lineman. This
inside down lineman is usually a three
technique and must be blocked in order for
the play to be successful. When helping the
guard with a double-team block, chip or
reverse chip block the aiming point for the cles, clinics, and instructional films can all
hands becomes the outside number of the be helpful in making offensive adjustments
defender (The guard and tackle must and in developing drills. I have tried to do
remain aware of blitz combinations in the A things the way other coaches do (and are
and B gaps). successful,) yet I always seem to come
On-Side Guard: Base block the inside back to what works best for us.
down defensive lineman (usually a two or Adjustments — yes, pick up a new play or
three technique.) The aiming point for the drill-yes, but the bottom line is. .. you know
shoulder is the outside hip of the defensive your players and you know your system. I
lineman if he is lined head up, or the inside firmly believe that the best drills are those
hip if he is lined up anywhere outside of that you design yourself. Establish a phi-
head up. The guard's block is usually exe- losophy of offensive line play, decide how
cuted in combination with the tackle, as you can best reach your goals, determine
together they are responsible for the inside the skills and techniques that you want to
down lineman and the middle linebacker. teach and creatively design your drills to
Center: Blocks back on the backside best teach your young men.
down lineman. Remember, make your offensive line-
Backside Guard: Folds around the man believe that they are the most impor-
center to block linebacker or first opposite tant part of the game!
color.
Backside Tackle: While still working his
splits, takes a sharp angle step to zone
through and block downfield on the
frontside. (He must be sure that the back- 2001 AFCA
side defensive end does not pinch inside).
Diagram 2 Committees
Will Be Listed
in the AFCA
Directory
AB Gap Blitz Combinations
We are committed to taking advantage
of every possible blocking angle in execut-
ing our option/pass offense. Books, arti-
 American Football Coaches Association
Code of Ethics Summary
“The ultimate success of the principles and
standards of this Code depends on those for
whom it has been established — the football coaches.”
Ever since the AFCA adopted its first formal “PURPOSE: The Code of Ethics has been
Code of Ethics in 1952, the organization has developed to protect and promote the best inter-
had a keen awareness of its importance and ests of the game and the coaching profession.
has done all in its power to keep the public Its primary purpose is to clarify and distinguish
aware of the AFCA’s concern with morality and ethical and approved professional practices
integrity. from those considered detrimental.

A complete copy of the Code of Ethics is sent to
every member.Vital tenets include:
“PREAMBLE: The distinguishing characteristic of
a profession is its dedication to the service of
humanity.
“Those who select football coaching must
understand that the justification for football lies
in its spiritual and physical values and that the
game belongs, essentially, to the players.
“Its secondary purpose is to emphasize the pur-
pose and value of football and to stress the
proper functions of coaches in relation to
schools, players and the public.”
The AFCA Code of Ethics deals at length with
the following subject areas:
Article One: Responsibilities to players
Article Two: Responsibilities to the institution

“The welfare of the game depends on how the
coaches live up to the spirit and letter of ethical
conduct and how the coaches remain ever
mindful of the high trust and confidence placed
in them by their players and the public.
Article Three: Rules of the game
Article Four: Officials
Article Five: Public Relations

“Coaches unwilling or unable to comply with the Article Six: Scouting

principles of the Code have no place in the profes-
sion... Article Seven: Recruiting

“The Code should be studied regularly by all Article Eight: Game day and other responsibilities
coaches and its principles should always be fol-
lowed. Violations of the Code should be report- Article Nine: Acceptance of all-star assignments
ed to the Ethics Committee.” and other all-star coaching honors

Be A Responsible Member Of
The Football Coaching Profession
Follow The AFCA Code Of Ethics

• Proceedings • 78th AFCA Convention • 2001 •