Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Zone out of Pistol Bunch X Nasty is a pure inside zone run with the offensive line flowing laterally and the HB reading blocks from the pistol alignment behind the QB. The bunch set to one side and the nasty (attached) tight end give extra gap integrity and force the defense to declare numbers before the snap. This is a zone run designed to attack cutback lanes, and the primary read is the frontside double team followed by the backside cutback lane if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they are shaded to the bunch side pre-snap the cutback lane away from the bunch is usually the better path. Identify whether the defense is running a 4-3 or 3-4 front, odd fronts with a nose over center make frontside zone tougher to spring. This run struggles against gap-exchange stunts and defensive tackle penetration up the middle, since it disrupts the double team before it forms. Look for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, an eighth defender in the box is the biggest indicator this run should be checked to a pass. Post-snap, key the backside defensive end, if he stays home on the cutback this run gets bottled up and the HB should look to bounce it outside instead.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and count blockers against defenders in the box before snapping the ball.
Use motion out of the bunch to identify man versus zone coverage and to potentially draw an extra defender out of the box.
Pair this play with HB Counter and HB Zone Wk in the same set so the defense cannot sit on one blocking scheme.
Run this on early downs (first and ten, second and short) when the defense is likely to play base personnel instead of stacking the box.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look pre-snap, consider hot routing the attached TE to a quick flare to create an outlet if the zone run gets blown up.
