The San Francisco 49ers have a knack for keeping defenses off-balance, and their secret weapon is making every play look and feel the same. At the 2023 C.O.O.L. Clinic, Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster spilled the details on how they pull it off.
It all starts with one play: outside zone. Every other scheme in their playbook is designed to mimic it.
Foerster explained that by using the same angles, footwork, and techniques across all plays, defenders can’t easily figure out what’s coming. This “same as” trick lets players drill the same moves over and over, sharpening their skills while leaving the defense clueless.
Take Power and Counter plays—most teams would muscle up and push straight ahead. Not the 49ers. They keep those blocks on the same path as outside zone, so defenders see the same picture. For example, their deuce block on Power doesn’t shoot upfield like others; it flows like outside zone.
This setup creates an offense built on deception—every snap could be anything, keeping defenders a beat behind.
Foerster’s approach isn’t about throwing in new plays all the time. It’s about making everything look like outside zone, so the defense stays stuck guessing.
Watch: Chris Foerster COOL Clinic Highlights
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