Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Pistol 12 personnel, weak side flow, with both TEs attached in-line to bolster the edge and the offensive line flowing in unison toward the play side. The diagram shows a zone blocking scheme with double team looks at the point of attack and the HB taking a lateral zone read step before pressing the crease. This is a run play designed to beat over aggressive fronts and gap heavy defenses, with the primary read progressing from the play side double team block through the first available crease based on how the defensive line and linebackers flow.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers stacked tight behind the defensive line, since this signals a run blitz that can beat zone blocking before the double teams set. Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they crash hard down the line the cutback lane opens for a big gain. Base 4-3 and 3-4 fronts with linebackers at normal depth are the easiest to gash with this zone run. Watch for a defensive tackle shooting the play side gap on a nano blitz timed to the snap, which can blow up the zone blocking scheme before the HB even gets the handoff. Man coverage on the perimeter with no extra run support in the box is a green light to hand it off, but if the defense shows a heavy run blitz look with safeties creeping into the box pre snap, consider checking to a quick pass instead.
Usage Tips
Run this out of Pistol when you see light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the two extra blockers from the TEs give you a numbers advantage. Check safety depth pre snap, if both safeties are deep and the box is light this is an easy conversion play on early downs. Use the HB Zone Wk on first and second down to stay ahead of the sticks, then pair it with HB Slam or HB Dive as a hard downhill counter once the defense starts flowing hard to the play side zone every snap. Mix in Read Option and PA Boot Y Drag from the same formation to keep linebackers honest and prevent them from crashing down on zone flow. If the defense stacks the box with an extra defender, motion is not shown here so instead check the flow of the front and bounce the run outside if the backside cutback lane opens up.
