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US Sports Football - Wylie, McNally and Alexander Key Coaching Points on the Wide Zone Play And #2 Bishop Gorman knocks out #1 St John Bosco season opener

• By Keith Grabowski
 

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Chances are that you will either be running a wide zone yourself or facing it at some point in the future.  It’s a play that teams use from the NFL through high school because of its ability to distort the defense and create running lanes for the back.  The nature of the movement caused by the scheme makes it one of the best runs to execute RPO and Play Action off of as well.

Three offensive line experts, and original members of “The C.O.O.L. Mushroom Society” know this play better than anyone and continue to innovate their coaching points and techniques on the play.

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Let’s start with Jim “Mouse” McNally, long time NFL line coach, now NFL consultant teaching the techniques on the front side of the play.

When blocking a defender aligned outside, the first step is critical.  Done right it puts the blocker on the path to reach or distort that defender to open the running lane. The images show varying alignment techniques and the variations in technique required.  

The first shows a wide aligned defender.  It starts with a drop step that allows the blocker to get on an angle that he can reach the defender or if the defender runs to stay outside, the lineman is in a position to use force to distort him out.

As the width of the defender alignment decreases, the drop step will still be deep to set an angle to cover the defender up, but the variation will be in the punch. In this example, McNally demonstrates the step and then a punch to the outside number:

In this next example, the defender is tightly aligned to head up.  The drop step is executed, and then the blocker will rip with his backside arm to get in a position to avoid and climb to level 2 knowing that he has a lineman coming from behind.  If the defender runs to not get reached, he will stay square on him and run him.

McNally explains these techniques and more in this video (click on the image to play):

Taking it a step further, Paul Alexander believes the key to sustaining the block is the backside drag hand.  He learned from Alex Gibbs how the drag hand should be used to grab the inside of the chest plate.  He teaches that in this video and includes a technique he learned from Howard Mudd on how to reach a wide aligned defender:

The wide zone is a team scheme.  Everyone needs to do their job properly because the ball could actually hit behind any of their blocks.  This is certainly true with the backside.  Bob Wylie illustrates on video how Kevin Zeitler helps open a lane with his block as the backside guard by taking the defender past the “read spot of the back.” 

Since the 80’s these coaches have been getting together annually to continue to share ideas and innovate at the C.O.O.L. Clinic. In 2021, the Wide Zone ruled as the topic of interest.  Packers Coach Adam Stenavich, Titans Coach Keith Carter, Notre Dame Coach Jeff Quinn, Oregon Coach Alex Mirabal and Ohio State Coach Greg Studrawa all presented on the wide zone play.   

Here are other resources on the Wide Zone Play:

Allen Rudolph, Ohio University - The WIDE ZONE - MAXIMIZE EXPLOSIVES & MINIMIZE NEGATIVE PLAYS

Jason Houghtaling, Tennessee Titans - Teaching the Wide Zone 

Matt Duffy, Willoughby South HS - Wide, Mid and Tight Zone taught as one play

Mike Chavez - The Outside Zone 

Jeff Fox, Nordonia HS, Outside Zone and the Path of Trust 

Juan Johnson, Hewitt-Trussville HS  - Build Your Offense Around the Outside Zone 

Eric Marty, Reedley College - Outside Zone 

David Walker, retired NFL - The Outside Zone - Executing the play

Loren Endsley, South Dakota St. - Techniques Used for Stretch

The schemes we’ve learned throughout the boom in virtual clinics have definitely increased our football knowledge especially in “what” the scheme is.  Now it’s time to refine and research the “how” and there’s no one better to learn that from  than the originators of the “Mushroom Society.”

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The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth On US Sports Radio - The True Bestie and Artist Spotlight: Sacred Warrior

 The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth. Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Building Intimacy With God

Every small step toward God can lead us into deeper intimacy with Him.

From Intouch Ministries

August 25, 2026

Psalms 139:1-4

Intimacy with God doesn’t just happen. As is true of any meaningful relationship, closeness with Him requires intentionality and ... 

• Honesty about where we are. We can’t build intimacy while pretending everything is fine. God already knows our struggles, doubts, and failures. He wants us to bring our real self to Him rather than a polished version. Confession isn’t about informing God of something He doesn’t know; it’s about agreeing with Him about the truth of our condition. Keep reading with the Intouch app....

US Sports Baseball - Baseball Training Exercises to Strengthen Arm and Bat Speed and BREWERS VS. BRAVES: Highlights Little League Classic

 

• By Grant Young
 

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Although much of success in baseball comes down to natural talent, any player who wants to improve can maximize their natural ability on the field by working hard. Yet, players can only take so many swings or throw so many pitches before their body begins to fatigue. 

Arm and Bat Speed Training

Click here to review this course

by Steve Zawrotny

Therefore coaches must come up with ways to help strengthen their arms to perform for longer periods. And these types of drills also contain another benefit: they will increase their players’ arm and bat speed, which will make players more powerful, more intimidating, and more appealing to prospective scouts. 

But coaches need to be careful in prescribing arm strengthening drills to their baseball players because doing too much of an exercise (or doing that exercise the wrong way) can cause injury, and have the opposite effect that arm and bat speed strengthening training is meant to have.

Luckily, there are coaches like Steve Zawrotny around, who can set coaches and players alike on the right path.

Coach Zawrotny is one of just a handful of individuals with experience as an NCAA Division 1 pitcher and coach with the CSCS credential. His baseball and softball-specific training programs combine solid clinical research and Steve's 30 years of playing, coaching, & training.

Coach Zawrotny’s ‘Arm and Bat Speed Training’ course will give you precise and well-research exercises that you can implement to any baseball player’s training regimen, in order to get them throwing and hitting as far as their genetics will allow.

We’ve pulled some of our favorite methods that Coach Zawrotny teaches, so you can get a taste of what his exercises can do for your players.

“Using a medicine ball is really going to help us develop explosive power. And we’re going to develop this power from the ground up.”

Coach Zawrotny’s extensive studies into sport-specific strength training taught him that no muscle group is more important for developing (and sustaining) athletic and explosive movements than the core. 

Therefore, Coach Zawrotny provides a series of medicine ball drills that are catered toward increasing core strength, which will be a massive benefit for hitters, pitchers, and any other type of athlete. 

The first Drill Coach Zawrotny mentions is the medicine ball chest pass. For this drill, players will need an eight-, ten-, or twelve-ounce medicine ball, a wall or wall-like surface, and something to pad their knees, because they will be on both knees. Once the player gets on their knees, they will face the wall they’ve chosen directly, about five feet away from it. They will then bring the ball up to chest height and make 15-20 throws at the wall with the medicine ball.

It’s important in this drill that the player isn’t sitting back on their heels, and is instead in as upright of a position as possible. This is crucial because doing so will make it so the core is responsible for the movement, rather than the shoulders. 

After a set or two of this, the player can then stand up and do the same thing while standing. The player will know they’re doing the drill correctly if they are feeling a burn in their core by the time they stand up. If they’re feeling more of a burn in their shoulders, the medicine ball they’re using is too heavy.

Many people think that arm curls are solely for aesthetic benefit, and have no place in an athlete’s strength training regimen. But Coach Zawrotny proves that this isn’t the case. 

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Yet, Coach Zawrotny doesn’t think that bicep curls specifically are beneficial for the athlete. But he’s a big fan of any sort of curl that strengthens the forearm or helps to increase grip strength. 

The best arm curl that Coach Zawrotny prescribed for baseball players of all positions is one where the player is sitting on a bench, with their knees in front of them. From there, the player will want to grab a barbell.

The player will then grip the barbell with their palms either facing upward or downward and their wrists over their knees. From there, the player will simply flex the barbell upwards (or downwards, depending on their grip) 25 times per set, for three sets.

Grip strength is imperative for hitters especially, because they can’t drive the ball if they don’t have a firm grip on the bat when making contact. And the same goes with forearms; although forearm strength is also important for pitchers as well, because having muscle in that area helps protect it from other internal injury. 

One of the best leg strengthening exercises that doesn’t require any weight is goodmornings. 

This exercise is straightforward. A player will either start with a barbell resting on their shoulders or with no weight and have their feet at shoulder width. From there, they will keep their chest open, tuck their lower back, and drop down, so that their upper body is parallel with the floor. 

From there, the player will then raise themselves, while taking caution to use their hamstrings to lift themselves, rather than their backs. This is of the utmost importance because it’s easy for a player going through the motions to use their lower back to raise themselves, which could cause injury. 

While this drill might sound easy, any player who is doing it correctly will experience a ton of soreness in their hamstrings in the ensuing days; if they did the exercise correctly, of course.

These three drills that Coach Zawrotny emphasizes are for three different body parts, proving that it takes the whole body to maximize one’s arm and bat speed strength. But even the weakest players can see their power and velocity stats increase if they commit to Coach Zawrotny’s training routine.

Sports help kids build confidence and grow into healthy, active adults. Learn how organizations, communities, and policymakers can use @HealthGov’s National #YouthSports Strategy to support youth sports: https://bit.ly/2lQ85f6

The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth On US Sports Radio. The Real Super-Hero Lives Inside Of You. Artist Spotlight: Rob Rock

 The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth. Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Jesus Is Stronger Than Our Fears

Though storms may rage around us, Jesus is still present—He is our calm within the storm.

From Intouch Ministries

August 24, 2026

Mark 4:37-39

The evening Jesus calmed the fierce gale on the Sea of Galilee, His disciples were terrified. Watching a storm from shore is one thing—dramatic but distant. But when you’re in the boat with waves crashing over the sides and rain pelting your face, fear becomes very real.

We all face storms of some sort: physical crises, relational ruptures, financial pressures, overwhelming circumstances. When troubles hit, we might find ourselves crying out, “God, where are You?” He is where He’s always been. The problem isn’t His absence; it’s that fear can make it hard to see Him clearly. Keep reading.......

Chris Beat Cancer on US Sports Radio - How Nery Pereira healed triple negative breast cancer without chemo or radiation, Presented by Yosuda Bikes!

 Now streaming on US Sports Radio

The Wall Street Journal best-selling guide to charting a path from cancer to wellness through a toxin-free diet, lifestyle, and therapy--created by a colon cancer survivor.
Two days before Christmas and at 26 years old, Chris Wark was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He had surgery to remove a golf ball-sized tumor and a third of his colon. But after surgery, instead of the traditional chemotherapy, Wark decided to radically change his diet and lifestyle in order to promote health and healing in his body. In Chris Beat Cancer, Wark describes his healing journey, exposes the corruption and ineffectiveness of the medical and cancer industries, and shares the strategies that he and many others have used to heal cancer.

Presented on US Sports by: Yosuda Bikes.

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The Clay Travis Buck Sexton Show On US Sports Radio - Attack On Trumps' Aide Is Nasty Presented on US Sports by Iron Infidel

 Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Join Clay Travis, founder of OutKick, and Buck Sexton, former CIA analyst, as they break down the biggest stories in politics, culture, and daily news. Smart. Fun. Sane.

Presented on US Sports by Iron Infidel 

Lift heavy, train hard, live free. Calling all patriots to the Iron lifestyle. Lifting gear for strength and support, bottles for hydration and convenience, and apparel for that everyday style. Wear it well. Be Iron.