Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Pistol with 12 personnel, run to the weak side away from the tight end alignment. The offensive line and both tight ends work zone steps to seal gaps and climb to the second level while the fullback or lead blocker attacks the point of attack shown by the red blocking arrow. The runningback reads the double team on the play side and presses the line before making a one cut based on the first defender to threaten the alley, so the primary read progression is backside cutback lane first, then bend it outside if the linebacker flows too fast.
Defensive Reads
Watch the strong safety pre-snap, if he is cheating into the box on the play side that is a run blitz key and you should be ready to bounce the run wide immediately. Identify the front alignment before the snap, an odd front with a shaded nose tackle can clog the backside cutback lane that this zone run relies on. Post-snap, track the play side linebacker's first step, if he attacks downhill without reading the zone steps you have a natural cutback lane behind him. This run struggles against stacked eight man fronts and aggressive gap-shooting defensive tackles that blow up zone steps before the tight ends can climb. Look for a user-controlled Mike linebacker sitting in the hole, since that defender is the primary threat to diagnose the cutback and close the backside gap quickly.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light fronts with six or fewer defenders in the box since it is a true gap scheme run without RPO relief.
Look at linebacker depth before the snap, if the Mike is stacked tight expect an early fill so plan to bounce the run outside off the tight end blocks.
Use this play on early downs, first and second and short to medium distance, to keep defenses honest and set up your play-action shots later in the drive.
Pair this call with PA Boot Lt or PA Flood out of the same Wing Flex Close set so the defense has to respect the run fake before you hit them with the boot action.
Motion the tight end or wing presnap to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows into the backfield you know you are getting man coverage and can shift blocking angles accordingly.
