Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Inside Zone out of Shotgun Bunch Open is a zone run play design with the HB aligned next to the QB and a bunch trio of receivers to the offense's left along with an isolated X receiver to the right. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, stepping in unison toward the play side to seal running lanes while the HB reads the flow of the down linemen and linebackers before picking his gap. The primary read progression for the ball carrier starts at the play side double team, then works to the backside linebacker fit, allowing the HB to bend the run back if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth pre-snap, stacked or crashing linebackers signal a run blitz that can blow up the frontside gap before the double team sets. Identify if the defense is in a base 4-3 or 3-4 front with even numbers in the box, this play thrives against light fronts of six or fewer defenders. Key the play side defensive end and linebacker flow, if they crash hard down the line the cutback lane behind them opens for a big gain. Beware of a user-controlled Mike linebacker sitting in the A-gap or B-gap pre-snap, this is the most common way defenses shut down inside zone in competitive play. Against nano blitz packages or overload fronts sent from the bunch side, expect quick penetration, so be ready to check to a different play if the defense shows an obvious eight-man box.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the run fit to avoid a stacked front eating the play.
Use the bunch alignment to your advantage by motioning one of the three receivers to check for man coverage rotation before the snap.
Pair this play with Bunch Flood or Bunch Levels on early downs so defenses cannot sit on run fits without opening up play-action shots off the same formation.
On the stick, take what the zone blocking gives you rather than forcing it outside, patience through the mesh point beats aggressive user linebacker fills.
Best called on first and second down in normal to short yardage situations where defenses have not yet committed extra defenders into the box.
