Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 17 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Zone is a run play out of the I Form Wing set with 22 personnel that features an HB run behind a zone blocking scheme, with a pre-snap motion tag shifting the wing back across the formation before the snap. The diagram shows the offensive line executing zone steps to the play side while the HB takes a downhill path off the mesh point, with the motion man adding an extra gap threat or lead blocker option depending on the flow. This is a run play designed to hit the alley created by the zone combo blocks, and the primary read progression starts with the playside double team and works to the backside cutback lane if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers keying the motion man pre-snap, since aggressive flow to the motion side often means the defense is in man coverage and susceptible to the cutback lane. Stacked boxes with eight or nine defenders near the line of scrimmage signal run blitz packages designed to fill every gap and stop this zone scheme cold. User the playside linebacker or safety to spy the cutback lane if you suspect the offense is manipulating flow with the motion tag. Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with an extra hat in the box are the best answers to this run, since they keep numbers advantage against the zone blocking scheme. Light boxes against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with only six or seven in the box are where this run play hits hardest, so diagnose safety depth immediately after the snap.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Run this out of early down situations like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and keep defenses honest against your play-action shots.
If the defense shows a heavy box with extra defenders stacked inside, hot route the fullback or wing to seal the edge and bounce the run outside.
Pair Mtn Zone with Mtn PA Power O and PA Boot Flow from the same set so linebackers have to respect both the zone run action and the play-action off identical formation looks.
Attack the backside cutback lane with the HB if the frontside linebackers flow too hard playside, since the zone blocking scheme is designed to create that natural cutback window.
