Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Outside Zone out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset with 12 personnel is a horizontal zone run scheme designed to get the HB stretching wide before pressing a crease. The diagram shows the offensive line flowing laterally toward the play side with the HB taking a lateral path off the RB alignment, reading blocks from the playside tackle to the edge before deciding to bend it back inside or bounce it outside. This is a pure run play with no route concept attached, and the primary read progression is the frontside edge block first, then the playside guard and center combo, working backside if the edge gets sealed.
Defensive Reads
Key the playside linebacker depth before the snap, if he is stacked tight to the line he is likely crashing hard to string the play out. Watch the defensive end and outside linebacker alignment on the play side, a wide 9 technique alignment signals the defense is trying to force a cutback into pursuit. User the playside linebacker or safety immediately after the snap to plug the cutback lane, this is the biggest threat to blowing up the zone scheme. Look for run blitzes from the weak side A or B gap, since Outside Zone is vulnerable to fast interior penetration before the line can get width. Against Cover 3 or single high looks, the safety filling downhill quickly is the key defender to beat with a strong cutback read from the HB.
Usage Tips
Attack light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the extra TE gives you a numbers advantage at the point of attack.
Use pre-snap motion or shifts sparingly here since the offset alignment already declares strength, so watch for the defense adjusting their front to match.
Pair this with Inside Zone from the same set to keep linebackers honest on flow direction, forcing them to hesitate before committing to either gap.
Mix in RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble out of the same formation so defenses cannot sell out to stop the run without giving up the perimeter throw.
On third and short, call this against defenses showing two high safeties since it usually means fewer bodies in the box and a clean cutback lane.
