Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Escort HB Split Zone lines up out of Shotgun Bunch TE with 11 personnel and uses a jet or fly motion across the formation before the snap to shift numbers to the run side. Up front the offensive line runs an inside zone blocking scheme with double teams at the point of attack, while the tight end works back across the formation as a split zone kickout blocker to seal the backside edge defender. This is a run play built to gash inside zone gaps, and the primary read progression starts with the play side double team combo, then bounces outside to the cutback lane if the backside is cleared by the split zone TE block.
Defensive Reads
Check linebacker depth and shoulder turn before the snap, if they flow hard to the motion side the cutback lane on the backside becomes the primary run answer. Watch the backside defensive end or outside linebacker for a crash technique, the split zone TE kick block is designed to remove him but a disciplined edge defender who stays home can blow this up. Look for a stacked box or extra safety creeping down into the alley, that signals the defense is selling out on inside zone and daring you to bounce it outside. Man coverage shells that chase the motion man across the formation open natural running lanes since the second level defenders lose gap integrity tracking the receiver. Zone fronts with disciplined gap fits and a linebacker who stays square instead of flowing hard are the toughest look for this play, the double team combo will not create the needed vertical push.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion to identify if the defense is running with the man in motion, which reveals man coverage or a base run front versus a zone shell that stays put.
Key the backside edge defender before the snap since the split zone TE block is designed to erase him, if that defender is crashing hard down the run lane will be there immediately.
Call this out of 11 personnel on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage to keep the defense honest against both run and pass tendencies from this Bunch TE look.
Pair this with Escort PA Slide or Escort Power Read Toss from the same set so the defense has to respect both the zone run action and the play action off identical motion and formation.
If the defense loads the box with an extra defender after seeing the motion, hot route into a quick game beater like Stick or X Spot from this same set to punish the overcommitment.
