How to Use Blocks in Football

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is Sean Hobson, for Expert Village. What we want to talk about now is the importance of running backs using their blockers appropriately. Blockers can be a big part of a big game for a running back but they have to be used properly. Your linemen will not always block exactly the way they're supposed to. It's your job to read how they block. What we're talking about is using your blockers effectively. (video demo) If this guy is coming down to make a tackle and this is going to be our lead blocker from the fullback position. He can do one of two things. You see that he's hit this man and kicked him to the outside. Our running back has to be smart enough to read the play and go through the hole in this direction and not try to take it to the outside. If our running back takes it to the outside he's pushing him right into the tackle and this guy will make an easy tackle. So, you have to use your blockers. Let's show the other way (video demo). If he comes through the hole and he's able to get in front and seal him to the inside than he has to cut off the block in that direction. One other way is if we're up field and this guy's running at an angle to make the tackle then this running back will sometimes grab his backers and push them in the direction that he wants to go cutting off to the inside or the outside. If you're going to be a good running back it's very important to use the guys in front of you to let them block appropriately and you go off their blocks."