Base and Combination Blocks / Base, Ace, Deuce, and Trey
The offensive line the backbone of the offense. The following information will give you an over view of how I install out blocking schemes, techniques, and Line Calls. The blocking schemes and alerts are designed for keeping the offensive line in the best possible blocking scheme.
The following pages will illustrate the use of base blocks as well as combination schemes. Combination blocks are between adjacent linemen. Any combination between the center and a guard is considered a Ace combination and depending which guard you work with will either be a Lion or Ram call. Ram for the right guard and Lion for the left guard. A combination between the guard and tackle is a Deuce, and any combination between the tackle and tight end is a trey combination.
A combination Ace, Deuce, Trey means “two” and the combo will always be between a down defender and a linebacker. A big coaching point when teaching the art of the combo is to see your linebacker. Combination blocks are geared to tracking down defenders to second level linebackers, So, “see you linebacker”.
As you read through this post and the follow up posts, sometimes a change in a blocking scheme may be required and a fold scheme used. Our fold schemes are known as Jack and Jill and the Jack and Jill scheme can be used with any combination block called. If Jill is alerted it means the inside blocker on the combo blocks out and the outside blocker comes around. If a Jack alert is used it means the outside blocker is down inside first with the inside blocker coming around and outside.
I will illustrate the use of the Base Block, Ace (Ram, Lion), Deuce, Trey and Jack and Jill fold scheme.
Base = Any lineman one-on-one vs a defender either on or off the L.O.S.
Ace = Center & Guard vs a down defender to a Linebacker.
Deuce = Guard & Tackle vs a down defender to a Linebacker.
Trey = Tackle & Tight End vs a down defender to a Linebacker.
Editor’s note from Brian: My apologies to anyone who is offended by the misspelling of “Deuce.” I do not have any way to change it on the diagrams below. Thank you for your understanding.
Setting Your Line Calls For Your Blocking Schemes
The following illustrations will demonstrate line calls used to set the different combination blocks when two adjacent linemen are working with each other. Remember, offensive linemen will rotate and make their alert calls according to the multiple alignments encountered during a game and
type of play called. The footwork used by an offensive is directly related to how the ball gets delivered to the running back. The line calls mentioned below apply to all the formations previously mentioned.
Combination Alert Calls – Ace, Deuce, Trey
Ace Combination Calls
Ace Fold Schemes
Click the following link for: Offensive Line Play Part 2
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.
Do you have any blocking schemes when facing a 5-3/6-2 defense