Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Inside Zone out of Shotgun Bunch TE Str is a straightforward zone run play with the bunch alignment (TE and two receivers stacked tight to the strong side) used to create natural blocking angles and disguise run action pre-snap. The offensive line flows laterally in a zone blocking scheme, with the RB reading the double team and cutback lanes off the playside double team at the point of attack. There is no route concept to speak of here, this is a pure run play, so the primary read progression for the ball carrier is press the mesh point, read the first double team block off the line, and decide between the bang, bend, or bounce lane based on how the front reacts.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth. Inside Zone struggles against stacked eight-man fronts with the safety creeping down near the line of scrimmage. Watch for linebackers cheating toward the bunch side before the snap, since that alignment tips run blitz or overload pressure to that side. Post-snap, key the playside defensive tackle and linebacker fit. If they get skinny and squeeze the double team, the RB should bounce it outside rather than force it inside. User-controlled defenders sitting in the hole (spy or lurk technique) are the biggest threat to this play, so scheme in misdirection or motion later in the drive to move that defender out of the box. This run is most effective against base 4-3 or 3-4 fronts in two-high shells where the defense is respecting play-action out of the same formation, since light boxes and slower linebacker triggers open up the interior lanes.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short to medium) to stay ahead of the chains and keep the defense honest against your pass-heavy Bunch TE Str concepts like Mtn Verts Shallow Cross and PA Double Post.
Use the bunch alignment pre-snap to bait linebackers into flowing hard toward the strength, then let the RB use the cutback lane if the defense overpursues.
Check the box count before the snap. If the defense has six or more in the box with no extra safety help, consider audibling to a pass play or checking to Mtn RPO Peek Flats instead.
Pair this run with Boomerang HB Angle or Boomerang Curl Flats later in a series once you have shown Inside Zone a few times, since the similar backfield action and personnel grouping will make defenders bite on run fits that are not there.
Against aggressive user linebackers who crash downhill immediately post-snap, hit the cutback lane hard since the backside pursuit is usually the last thing defenders account for out of this bunch look.
