Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Pistol Y Trips with 11 personnel, pairing a weak side zone blocking scheme with a lead HB path to the weak side of the formation. The offensive line flows in unison to the play side while the HB reads the initial double team and cutback lanes off his blocks rather than a predetermined gap. This is a pure run play with no pass option attached, so the primary read progression is the HB reading the play side double team first, then bouncing to the cutback lane if the backside blockers seal their defenders.
Defensive Reads
Watch the weak side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap since a tight walk up on that edge signals the defense is set to funnel the zone run inside. Identify if the defense shows a bubble in the middle of the box, which usually means the linebackers are sitting back to read run flow and can be gashed by a quick cutback. Post-snap, key on user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the play side, since a disciplined backside linebacker crashing down can blow up the cutback lane before it develops. Look for safety rotation into the box pre-snap, because an extra run defender stacking the weak side A or B gap turns this from a positive gain into a stuffed run. Against odd fronts or heavy blitz packages sending extra rushers off the edge, this play struggles unless the fullback or tight end can account for the extra man, so respect the blitz look before calling it.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box to avoid getting gang tackled at the line.
Use pre-snap motion or an audible check if you see a defender walked down into the weak side B gap, since that alignment clogs the primary zone lane.
Mix HB Zone Wk with HB Counter and HB Slam from the same Y Trips set to keep linebackers guessing on flow direction and misdirection.
Bind this play call to Read Option or PA Ctr Waggle on early downs so defenders have to respect both the zone run action and the play action off the same look.
Save HB Zone Wk for second and short or first and ten situations where defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts instead of stacking the box.
