Coach -

Steven Ciocci, Offensive Line Coach at Fordham, doesn’t believe in taking the easy road—and neither do his players. In a recent talk, Ciocci broke down his philosophy on offensive line fundamentals, using outside zone as the framework to explain how he builds smart, tough, and aggressive linemen.

“If it’s easy, it’s wrong,” Ciocci told his audience. “If what you’re doing in your stance or your offseason training feels comfortable, you’re not straining hard enough.”

That sets the tone for everything his players do. Whether preparing for outside zone, inside zone, or gap schemes, the mindset is the same—embrace the challenge, strain with intent, and finish with dominance.

The 5-Second Read

Ciocci stresses urgency and clarity. Once the quarterback calls the play, his linemen have 5 to 15 seconds to process everything: the play call, their job, their technique, and their finish. That includes:

• Assignment – Who am I blocking? What’s the play?

• Technique – What tool am I using to win?

• Landmark – What part of the defender must I strike?

• Base – Am I rooted, powerful, and balanced?

• Leverage – Are my eyes and hands positioned to control the defender?

• Finish – Am I still blocking when the camera pans out?

Landmarks and Leverage: Non-Negotiables

No matter the scheme, Ciocci teaches his players that every block has a target point on the defender’s body. To get there, the first step must leave the base frame—it can be vertical, lateral, or a brace step. The second step is where the power lives.

Base isn't one-size-fits-all. “A 6’7” lineman and a 6’0” lineman won’t look the same,” he said. But both need to be condensed, rooted, and balanced.

When it comes to leverage, it’s not just about pad level—it’s about the eyes. “I want our eyes under the defender’s eyes,” Ciocci explained. “Then fit the hands inside and underneath.”

Once contact is made, the hips follow, and then it’s all about foot drive. “When you’ve got a guy on skates, your foot drive matters more than maintaining your base.”

The Finish: Play to the Whistle—Then Some

Ciocci’s final point isn’t technical—it’s mental. “Are you in the camera shot at the end of the play?” he asks. Because if you’re not, you didn’t finish. It’s a challenge to every lineman in his room: dominate through the whistle, impose your will, and bury your opponent.

Video: Belief in Run Blocking Fundamentals

Thank you to Coach Ciocci for putting this presentation together

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. Coach Ciocci has put together 8 presentations now on CoachTube. Get the entire bundle full of OL Fundamentals and Scheme Application here