The Near Ear Rule for Offensive Linemen
Any play called that ends with an 8 or a 9 in the running game requires fast rotation of the combination or base block. The fast rotation is dictated by how the ball is delivered, for example, the toss play.
If you don’t know who to block, put your helmet to the nearest ear of the down defender an you’re never wrong.
The near ear is how the blocking schemes are set. According to type of play caned will determine where your offensive linemen will place their helmet on the down defender in the running game. With all numbers 0-1, 2-3, 4-5 our offensive linemen will landmark the near ear of the defenders helmet for who he will block and where he will place his helmet on the snap of the ball. 6 & 7s, puts the offensive line tracking through the outside number for play side combo and next number over for the backside combo linemen. The footwork and technique used here is a drop step with the lineman ripping his backside arm through the playside jersey number of the down defender.
• Near Ear is also known as a landmark
• Block nearest ear of the down defender
according to play call
• Where you place your helmet
• Base block to near ear on helmet of
down defender
• When making a “verbal alert call”
• Never pull a covered lineman with you
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.