Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
QB Zone out of Shotgun 5WR Flex Trey is a designed QB run that hands the read to the quarterback on a zone blocking scheme with no running back in the backfield. The offensive line executes a zone step, sealing running lanes to the play side while the five wide receivers occupy every defensive back and slot defender with vertical releases to hold the second level. This is a designed run play, not a play-action or RPO, so the primary read progression is simply the QB reading his blockers and picking the crease based on how the defensive line and linebackers flow to the zone action.
Defensive Reads
Diagnose the play immediately if you see a defensive lineman crash upfield untouched since a spy or contain defender will erase the quarterback's escape lane. Watch for user-controlled linebackers flowing hard to the play side, this is the primary counter and forces the QB to cut back into a lane that may not be blocked. Six or seven man boxes with linebackers sitting at depth rather than crashing will shut this down since the numbers favor the defense against a QB run out of empty personnel. Man coverage with press corners tips off blitz packages behind it, if the corners are locked on the five receivers with no help over the top, expect extra rushers crashing the box. Look for a spy assignment on the quarterback pre-snap, a defender lined up at linebacker depth who does not blitz is designed specifically to take away this exact concept.
Usage Tips
Call QB Zone against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the 5WR Flex Trey empties the backfield and removes an extra blocker.
Check the middle of the field pre-snap for a vacated MLB or a defense that is stacked in coverage since that opens up cutback lanes for the quarterback.
Use your mobile quarterback ratings to your advantage here, this play only works if your QB has the speed and agility to actually threaten the edge or cut inside.
Mix QB Zone in with Jailbreak Slot Screen and Shallow Cross from the same set to keep defenders honest against the run fake tendencies and prevent linebackers from crashing down every snap.
Best used on early downs or short yardage since the design sacrifices a pass blocker and receiver route detail for a clean gap scheme run.
