TO STABILIZE and improve the running game, your offensive linemen need to master these 5 basic run blocking steps:
1.  Base Step.

2.  Reach Step.

3.  Gap Step.

4.  Pull Step.

5.  Zone Step.

Blocking-step techniques are performed with hands or shoulders depending upon whether your players are blocking up the field or down the line of scrimmage on an angle.

If they are blocking up field, use the base, reach and zone steps. If the running play calls for angle blocking down the LOS, use the gap and pull step techniques.

Stance
One thing that should always remain consistent is your linemen’s stance. A good, solid lineman stance should have the following characteristics:
„    Feet should be parallel. No toe-to-instep or staggered alignment.
„    Knees knocked.
„    Weight should be on the inside part of their feet.
„    Back should be flat.
„    Chest should be on the thighboard.
„    Head up.
„    Eyes looking through eyebrows.

Place a hand on the ground. There should be no weight placed on the hand so the defensive linemen will not be able to have a run read. If there is pressure on the hand, the knuckles will turn white and that’s a sure tip-off that a run play is coming. Be careful, because a loose hand can also be a give-away for a pass read by the defense.
Once a lineman has the intricacies of the stance perfected, you may begin to teach the fundamentals of each run step.

1. Base Step
Use a base step so the second step gets blocking position balanced (feet parallel). The second step should be on the ground before contact.
„    Use a timing step when you block using a base step. For example, if it is a base step right, time step with your left foot (pick it up, put it down) then step forward with the right foot.
„    Heel replaces toe. (6-inch step)
„    A base step left. Time step with right foot, step with left.

On the first step, pull your hands back to your hips (hand on holsters). On the second step, your linemen should deliver a powerful strike to the defender that shocks the numbers.

2. Reach Step
„    The reach step is used to block an outside edge or to head up a defender.
„    Reach right, step laterally with the left foot first (like a “crow hop” step to get blocking position head up or parallel against the defender).
„    Shoulders must stay square.
„    Deliver a punch strike to the numbers of the opponent.
„    Attack the outside shoulder of downsman.
„    Continue to fight for outside leverage. During a reach step, the ball is going to be run outside of your lineman.

3. Gap Step
„    This is used to block a penetrator. (An inside gap downman or a blitzing linebacker.)
„    Step flat down the line.
„    Do not pivot. Pick up foot and put it down.
„    On gap-step right, from the stance, rip the right arm back so that the torso turns with the step.
„    On all gap-right steps, have your linemen block with the left shoulder technique so that the head is across the penetrating defender.

4. Pull Step
„    This is used to get your linemen outside on the flank to block the contain or pursuit defenders.
„    Arm movement is the same as the gap step.
„    During the first step, the head snaps out to the flank.
„    Offensive linemen should picture themselves in the middle
of a clock.
„    On a pull-step right, open or drop step toward 5 o’clock.
„    On a pull-step right, use a left leg crossover attack to the outside.

5. Zone Step (Zone Right)
„    Drop-step right on a 45-degree angle.
„    Crossover left and run on an angle through the outside edge of defense.
„    Stay on track. Block anything that crosses your path.
„    Let the back find the hole.