Which blocking scheme is described as linemen stepping in the direction of the play to create a running lane?

• A. Man-to-man blocking.
• B. Kick-out blocking.
• C. Zone blocking.
• D. Pull blocking.

Answer: (C)

Zone blocking is about linemen stepping toward the direction of the play to form a running lane by filling zones rather than sticking to a specific defender. In this scheme, blockers move in unison, creating seams for the back to read and hit. It relies on the blockers creating a coordinated wall as they step to the play side, allowing the running back to choose a lane that opens up through those shared blocks.

This differs from man-to-man blocking, where each blocker is responsible for a particular defender and follows him rather than forming a shared zone. Kick-out blocking is a technique used to seal the edge by kicking out a defender, often on outside runs, which isn’t about creating a lane through zone movement. Pull blocking involves a lineman, typically a guard, pulling to lead the play from a different angle, not the coordinated stepping to the play side described here.