Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of the Pistol Bunch X Nasty set, run to the weak side away from the bunch alignment. The offensive line and TE execute a zone blocking scheme, stepping in unison to seal gaps and create a running lane based on the flow of the defensive front. This is a pure run play with no play-action or RPO element, and the primary read progression for the HB is a backside cutback or frontside bounce, keying on which gap the linebackers and defensive line vacate first as the zone blockers work their combo blocks up to the second level.
Defensive Reads
Watch the weak side linebacker depth and width before the snap since this run attacks away from the bunch, so an overloaded weak side alpha or Sam defender can blow up the zone blocking scheme. If the defense shows a bear front or heavy interior alignment, this play will struggle to find a crease because the zone blockers cannot reach the second level cleanly. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with light boxes are prime targets since the extra defenders are tied up in coverage responsibilities rather than filling run gaps. Post-snap, key on the backside defensive end and any user-controlled defender crashing down hard, since a disciplined backside contain player can string this run out and force a negative gap read. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders through the A and B gaps on the play side will collapse the zone blocking scheme quickly, so audible away from this run if you see linebackers walked up tight to the line pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only call this against light boxes of six defenders or fewer since the bunch alignment can tip run to disciplined defenses.
Use this play on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the sticks and keep the defense honest.
Pair HB Zone Wk with HB Zone to the strong side so you can attack both edges of the defense and keep linebackers flowing hard in both directions.
Mix in Slant Spacing or Corner Out Dig from the same Bunch X Nasty set after establishing this run so the defense has to respect play-action and man beaters off the identical bunch look.
Press L2 or LT to slow the play down and let the zone blocks develop before committing to a lane, especially against fast-flowing linebacker sets.
