Football 101: Running Lanes

[Hostile]

I like pure football threads and earlier today some friends and I were talking about how there aren't enough of them. So I decided this could be fun.

Some of you may not know that in football parlance there are numbered running lanes. So I thought this might be helpful to describe them. If it isn't, I apologize.

There are 10 running lanes designated by the numbers 0 to 9. Odd numbered lanes are to the left of the Center. Even numbered lanes are to the right of the Center.

There are two running lanes on each side of the Center designated by the smaller numbers. Running lanes 2 and 3 are called the "trap lanes" meaning special trap blocking opens those lanes. Running lanes 0 and 1 are called "sneak lanes" meaning those are lanes for QB sneaks.

If a RB hits the hole on either side of the Center he is hitting the 2 or 3 hole even if it is not a trap. The lanes are still called the "trap lanes" regardless of the type of blocking ahead of the RB.

The gap between 7 and 9 on the left is if the TE pulls or lines up on the left side to make it "strong" or a 2 TE set with both TEs wide of the OTs.

Here's a snapshot of how the Running Lanes look along the LOS.

WR...9...7...LT...5...LG...3...1...C...0...2...RG...4...RT...6...TE...8...WR

Hopefully this makes some sense to you and you enjoy knowing the information.

 

[TheCount]

Man, we so need more threads like this in here. This is one of the best posts I've read in months, I love this stuff.

 

[Big Country]

That's really cool Hos. I would have liked to see a few of your possible RB play scanarios utilizing our corps of RBs. Nice post

 

[Hostile]

Man, we so need more threads like this in here. This is one of the best posts I've read in months, I love this stuff.

Thank you. I was afraid it would not be enjoyed. Give me ideas of other stuff you want and I'll be glad to either find someone to do it who knows more than I do, or do it myself if I think it's not above my head to explain.

 

[justbob]

Thanks Hos --now if you can correlate to the arena I might understand..I thought everyone ran up the middle or outside---Guess that what happens when you get thrown off the football team cause the coaches doesn't allow any rodeoing

 

[boba5555]

Thanks for the info, Hos. Always great to read something from someone who has something good to share.

 

[Hostile]

One thing I failed to mention and should have. This information is how Quality Control Assistants usually break down film for review. They will write something like this.

2nd Q, 12:15, 1st & 10, base 43, I-form, own 23 yl, trap 2, 3 yards, LDT

This breaks down the quarter, time left, down and distance, Defense faced, Set, field position, play run, result, and who stopped the forward progress.

Because that play lists the DT it would tell the OC and the OL coach that RG did not successfully complete his block and the DT slid off and made the stop. That is one way the grade the O-linemen on run plays. Every OL is graded on passes and runs and the coaches know who misses assignments, etc. They also catalog this for future situations.

 

[arglebargle]

Good nuts and bolts stuff there!

New to it, or refresher course, I always find this sort of thing useful and interesting.

As much as the game of football is about very strong, determined guys confronting one another, there's a tremendous amount of subtlety at work as well.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I like pure football threads and earlier today some friends and I were talking about how there aren't enough of them. So I decided this could be fun.

Some of you may not know that in football parlance there are numbered running lanes. So I thought this might be helpful to describe them. If it isn't, I apologize.

There are 10 running lanes designated by the numbers 0 to 9. Odd numbered lanes are to the left of the Center. Even numbered lanes are to the right of the Center.

There are two running lanes on each side of the Center designated by the smaller numbers. Running lanes 2 and 3 are called the "trap lanes" meaning special trap blocking opens those lanes. Running lanes 0 and 1 are called "sneak lanes" meaning those are lanes for QB sneaks.

If a RB hits the hole on either side of the Center he is hitting the 2 or 3 hole even if it is not a trap. The lanes are still called the "trap lanes" regardless of the type of blocking ahead of the RB.

The gap between 7 and 9 on the left is if the TE pulls or lines up on the left side to make it "strong" or a 2 TE set with both TEs wide of the OTs.

Here's a snapshot of how the Running Lanes look along the LOS.

WR...9...7...LT...5...LG...3...1...C...0...2...RG...4...RT...6...TE...8...WR

Hopefully this makes some sense to you and you enjoy knowing the information.

That takes me back.

Game winning Strong right 47 toss TD run.

 

[MONT17]

You can also number the holes from right to left 1through 9... this is usually for levels below highschool, pretty simple.


1 and 9 are sweeeps and waggles
2 and 8 are off tackle
3 and 7 counters
4 and 6 traps

 

[zrinkill]

Good stuff Hos

 

[Kilyin]

I think the real question is, what's the difference between a draw and a delay?

 

[Temo]

I think the real question is, what's the difference between a draw and a delay?

It's really the same thing.

 

[DallasEast]

Great post Hos. One thing which I constantly hear or read someone say is, "Why does the offensive coordinator keep attacking the interior running lanes, when an opposing defense is restricting the running back to minimal gains?"

One reason is that the shortest point between two points is a straight line. The interior of any base package defense are the two defensive tackles and middle linebacker (43 defense) or the nose/defensive tackle and two interior linebackers (34 defense).

This is the area (inner triangle) where the vast majority of runs will be shut down. Why? It's designed that way. Runs designed to hit the 2/3 lanes are, in effect, contained within a bottleneck. The running back enters that bottleneck and any blockers' primary assignments (including the fullback and/or tight end motioning into the backfield) are to engage and counter those particular three defensemen.

Early in a game, the defense will win these downs, usually limiting the running back to very short gains. They are usually able to counter them effectively because they're fresh enough and strong enough to clog the bottleneck, but as the game wears on, the advantage shifts to the offense IF the offensive coordinator is able to stick to his gameplan. That advantage is usually highlighted by a couple of big gains by the running back.

It's methodical, but the benefits of continually hitting those inner lanes can pay off big. An asset for the offense trying to run these lanes is a bruising running back who is able to keep pounding at the defense's inner triangle repeatingly--thus wearing them down bit by bit until they cannot fill the holes opened within those running lanes quickly enough. BOOM! Big gain. Perhaps even a HUGE gain up the gut.

According to the offensive strategy which has seeped out of Valley Ranch all offseason, we're going to devote more attention to the run. This is the reason why a running back like Marion Barber will remain a key asset this season and will continually receive a good proportion of the carries. You can do the same with Felix Jones and maybe even moreso with Tashard Choice coming off the bench, but the inner running lanes are handmade for a back like Barber.

 

[Primetime42]

This makes me think my HS coaching was even more ********.

Our numbers system went from 9-0 going left to right in the formation you specified.

We ran the Run & Shoot, though.

 

[FLcowboy]

Great job Hos. Reminds me of my junior high school football days. I was too slow to stay at running back when I got to high school, and became a guard/linebacker. Didn't excel there either.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Thank you. I was afraid it would not be enjoyed. Give me ideas of other stuff you want and I'll be glad to either find someone to do it who knows more than I do, or do it myself if I think it's not above my head to explain.

You should have no fear regarding enjoyment.

As someone who has never played the game at any organized level, I am captivated by threads such as these. They're like candy to me. Anything that increases my laymen's understanding of the game is deeply appreciated.

 

[Kangaroo]

Great post Hos. One thing which I constantly hear or read someone say is, "Why does the offensive coordinator keep attacking the interior running lanes, when an opposing defense is restricting the running back to minimal gains?"

One reason is that the shortest point between two points is a straight line. The interior of any base package defense are the two defensive tackles and middle linebacker (43 defense) or the nose/defensive tackle and two interior linebackers (34 defense).

This is the area (inner triangle) where the vast majority of runs will be shut down. Why? It's designed that way. Runs designed to hit the 2/3 lanes are, in effect, contained within a bottleneck. The running back enters that bottleneck and any blockers' primary assignments (including the fullback and/or tight end motioning into the backfield) are to engage and counter those particular three defensemen.

Early in a game, the defense will win these downs, usually limiting the running back to very short gains. They are usually able to counter them effectively because they're fresh enough and strong enough to clog the bottleneck, but as the game wears on, the advantage shifts to the offense IF the offensive coordinator is able to stick to his gameplan. That advantage is usually highlighted by a couple of big gains by the running back.

It's methodical, but the benefits of continually hitting those inner lanes can pay off big. An asset for the offense trying to run these lanes is a bruising running back who is able to keep pounding at the defense's inner triangle repeatingly--thus wearing them down bit by bit until they cannot fill the holes opened within those running lanes quickly enough. BOOM! Big gain. Perhaps even a HUGE gain up the gut.

According to the offensive strategy which has seeped out of Valley Ranch all offseason, we're going to devote more attention to the run. This is the reason why a running back like Marion Barber will remain a key asset this season and will continually receive a good proportion of the carries. You can do the same with Felix Jones and maybe even moreso with Tashard Choice coming off the bench, but the inner running lanes are handmade for a back like Barber.

Kind of like in Boxing you keep hitting the guy in the body at 1st he will shake it off but as the rounds go on he gets tired and low and behold he drops his hands just enough to open up his chin or the side of his head and you hit them with that KO blow

 

[DallasEast]

Kind of like in Boxing you keep hitting the guy in the body at 1st he will shake it off but as the rounds go on he gets tired and low and behold he drops his hands just enough to open up his chin or the side of his head and you hit them with that KO blow

 

[Kilyin]

It's really the same thing.

Yeah, it was a joke referencing a previous argument on this board.