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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Zone Split is an Inside Zone run play out of the Pistol Strong formation with 21 personnel, giving the offense two backs to work with in the run game. The line flows laterally with double team combo blocks at the point of attack while the fullback or second back offers a lead insert to seal off a linebacker. The primary read is the frontside double team combo block: the ball carrier presses the line of scrimmage and reads the first down lineman past the double team, bending the run outside if that defender gets pushed inside or cutting back if the frontside gets sealed.
Defensive Reads
Identify the middle linebacker depth pre-snap: if he is stacked tight behind the nose it signals a quick fill read and you should be ready to bounce the run outside Watch for a nine technique or crashing defensive end on the play side, since that alignment can blow up the frontside double team before the back reaches the line Man coverage on the perimeter with corners playing tight press usually means the second level is thinner in run support, favoring the cutback lane Zone shells with safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap are the biggest threat to this play, since the extra run fitter closes the cutback window that the scheme relies on Key the defensive tackle lined up over the guard on the double team side: if he is a heavy penetrator, this play struggles against aggressive one gap fronts and you should shift to Ravens Power instead
Usage Tips
Run this play against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the extra blocker in 21 personnel gives you a numbers advantage there
Check the defensive front pre-snap: if the defense stacks the box with eight defenders or shows a run blitz look, consider audibling to a play-action shot off this same look instead
Use the second back as a lead blocker by keeping him in rather than motioning him out, since his insert block on the frontside linebacker is what creates the cutback lane
Pair this with HB Power and Ravens Power in the same set to keep defenders guessing between zone and gap schemes out of the same Pistol Strong alignment
On third and short or second and short, this play punishes defenses that sell out with nickel or dime packages since there will not be enough bodies at the second level to fit every gap
