Cody Kennedy - Pry Technique Zone Blocking vs Movement

Pry Technique: Winning Against Movement in the Zone Run Game

Defensive fronts increasingly use slants, stunts, and gap exchanges to create penetration and disrupt the run game. In this course, offensive line coach Cody Kennedy breaks down the pry technique, a powerful answer for handling movement without abandoning combination blocks or exposing teammates to tackles for loss.

Coach Kennedy explains how offensive linemen can recognize movement by keying the defender’s near knee, avoid escaping through the defense’s “trap door,” and redirect with same-foot, same-shoulder power. The technique helps stop penetrating defensive linemen, protect adjacent blockers, and create vertical running lanes through the defense.

Using diagrams, game film, missed-opportunity examples, and detailed drill progressions, Kennedy demonstrates how the pry technique applies to both odd and even defensive structures. He also explains how it can be incorporated into zone, duo, power, and other gap-scheme concepts based on each lineman’s priority-gap responsibility.

What You’ll Learn

• The purpose and foundation of the pry technique

• How to prevent defenders from exchanging gaps and creating penetration

• How to identify the defense’s “trap door” and avoid releasing too quickly to the second level

• How to key the near knee and recognize movement immediately after the snap

• Why the first step must place the blocker in position to enter the combination block

• How to plant and redirect off the first step instead of reacting late

• How to deliver same-foot, same-shoulder contact for maximum stopping power

• How to use a low, down shoulder to minimize surface area and lift the defender

• How to create vertical creases that allow the running back to press the line of scrimmage with confidence

• Which offensive linemen should be on pry alert against odd and even fronts

• How the technique changes for centers, guards, tackles, and backside combination blockers

• How priority-gap responsibility determines whether a blocker should pry or remain on his track

• How to help an adjacent blocker without taking over the entire block

• How to pry, regain the proper track, and climb to the assigned linebacker

• How linebacker alignment and leverage affect the decision to use the technique

• How to apply the pry technique in tight zone, duo, power, and other gap schemes

• Common mistakes that lead to late or ineffective pry attempts

• How to structure reaction drills using boards, hand shields, and second-level targets

• How to coach bag holders to simulate realistic, game-speed movement

• The key coaching cues needed to develop better vision, footwork, leverage, and reaction time

Kennedy concludes with a complete set of coaching points emphasizing disciplined eyes, an efficient first step, a strong base, force through the ground, and violent down-shoulder contact. The result is a practical technique offensive line coaches can use to reduce penetration, eliminate tackles for loss, and give their run game a dependable answer against defensive movement.