Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Pistol Doubles Hip with 11 personnel, showing two receivers stacked wide on each side and a weak side zone track for the running back. The line blocks a zone scheme flowing weak, with the fullback or lead blocker sealing the edge while the offensive line steps in unison to create cutback lanes. This is a pure run play with no route concept attached, and the primary read progression is the frontside double team, then the backside cutback lane if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, if they are stacked tight to the line expect an aggressive run blitz that can blow up the zone track. Identify the weak side defensive end alignment, a wide 9 technique alignment favors the cutback while a tight alignment favors the frontside track. Post-snap, key the flow of the second level linebackers, if they overrun the frontside flow, cut the ball back weak immediately. Look for safeties cheating down into the box pre-snap, that signals run support that can outnumber the blocking scheme on the perimeter. Against man coverage looks with single high safety, defenders are more likely to stay in coverage assignments, which usually creates cleaner run lanes at the second level.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the tackle box.
Use the weak side zone track to attack defenses that overload their run fits to the strong side or slide the line to the passing strength.
Pair this with RPO Alert Jet Slant or RPO Jet Alert Slant from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the quick game off similar formation looks.
On early downs, mix this in after a few passes from Doubles Hip to keep linebackers honest and slow down their run blitz timing.
Manually control the fullback or lead blocker on the weak side to seal the edge defender and create a bigger cutback window for the back.
