Inside Gap Scheme Runs

with A.J. Blazek,
University of Wyoming Offensive Line Coach;
former North Dakota State University Offensive Line Coach;
helped NDSU rush for a school-record 4,601 yards in 2019 en route to a perfect 16-0 record;
led NDSU to the 4th-ranked FCS rushing offense (287.6 yards per game) in 2019; NDSU also led the FCS in tackles for loss allowed (3.56 per game);
former Rutgers University Assistant Coach/Offensive Line;
former Western Illinois Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator;
as a player, was a 2x All-Big Ten Lineman at the University of Iowa

A-Gap Power is the base play for the seemingly unbeatable NDSU Bison. Coach A.J. Blazek, a "self-professed zone guy", has embraced the NDSU gap scheme culture and is now an enthusiastic gap convert ready to share his system. Highlighting the similarities and differences between the zone blocking scheme and the gap blocking scheme, Blazek provides a thorough breakdown of responsibilities and execution of the A-Gap Power play.

A-Gap Principles and Rules

Defining four A-gap principles, Blazek puts in place the template for every player in the NDSU offense. Reviewing game film, he shows you how to apply these principles to any defense, formation, or scheme your opponent might run against you.

Next, Blazek outlines three gap scheme rules for the offensive line and defines a simple template that can be applied to every situation. His philosophy is to "rep it, rep it, rep it" so that his offensive linemen are used to seeing the chaos of game day and can respond appropriately within his gap scheme rules.

Power Read

In the final 10 minutes of this video, Coach Blazek touches on the Power Read play and demonstrates how effective the one/two punch of A-Gap Power and Power Read can be. These plays have two different points of attack, yet the blocking is the same for the offensive line, making it a scheme your athletes can pick up quickly. Coach Blazek says, "If you do the same play all the time, as a staff you learn to know all the answers."

Upon watching this video from Coach Blazek, A-Gap Power will be your 'bread and butter' play that you run "anytime, anywhere, any field, any alley" as your team makes its way to a championship.

70 minutes. 2020.