Playbooks

Hop Split Zone

Pistol·Bunch·11

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Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetBunch

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Hop Split Zone is an inside zone run play out of Pistol Bunch that uses a split flow fake to manipulate the second level of the defense. The offensive line zone blocks toward the play side while the H back or TE hops across the formation to kick out the backside end, creating a natural cutback lane if the frontside gets sealed. This is a run play designed to attack gap integrity, and the primary read is the playside linebacker fit followed immediately by the backside cutback lane if the defense overpursues the zone flow.

Defensive Reads

Watch the playside defensive end and 3 technique for gap integrity, since a hard crash inside kills the frontside cutback and forces you to bounce it outside. Key the backside linebacker flow, if he chases the split flow fake hard you have a wide open cutback lane behind him. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the B gap or spying the mesh point, which signals a defender is keying the run action instead of the pass. Base fronts with two gap defensive tackles and stacked linebackers shut this down quickly, so avoid running it into heavy or bear front looks. Overload blitzes from the bunch side can beat this play before the zone flow develops, so be ready to check into a hot route or bail to a quick throw if you see extra defenders crashing off the edge pre snap.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the run fit.

Attack bunch heavy fronts where the linebackers have to respect the split flow action, since that hesitation opens up the cutback lane.

Use manual motion on the HB pre-snap to see if linebackers flow with the shift, which tells you whether you are facing man or zone principles behind the front.

Pair this with Mesh or Slant Spacing from the same Bunch Pistol set so defenses cannot sit on the run action after seeing split zone action early in the game.

On third and short, call this after establishing Hop PA Boot Slide off the same look so linebackers hesitate on the fake and widen the cutback window.