Playbooks

Mtn Mid Zone

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 8 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn Mid Zone is an inside zone run play out of the Bunch TE set in Shotgun, designed to attack the interior gaps with the bunch alignment pulling second level defenders out of the box pre-snap. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme with combo blocks at the point of attack, letting the HB read the double teams and pick his gap based on flow from the linebackers. The primary read progression for the ball carrier is backside cutback lane first, then bend it to the playside A or B gap if the backside is clogged, always pressing the line before committing to a hole.

Defensive Reads

Look for safety depth and alignment pre-snap, if both safeties are sitting deep in a two high shell that usually signals lighter box counts and a green light to run this zone concept. Identify if the defense is in a 4-3 under or over front since shaded nose tackles and 3 techniques change your primary cutback lane and which gap will be softest. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they are creeping up expecting run you may need to bounce this outside rather than forcing it into a stacked box. This run gets stopped cold by aggressive gap control defenses that key the mesh point fast, especially defenses running a 46 style front or overloading the box with 8 in the box looks after seeing the bunch personnel. Beware of user controlled linebackers spying the mesh point or flowing hard downhill since a fast trigger defender can blow up the play before the double team blocks even develop.

Usage Tips

Check the box count pre-snap and only call this when you have 6 or fewer defenders in the box since the bunch alignment should be pulling extra defenders out wide. Use motion out of the bunch to identify man versus zone coverage before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know you are getting man principles on the back end. Take manual control of your lead blocker or the HB immediately after the snap to help identify the cutback lane rather than trusting the CPU blocking logic in tight window situations. This play works best on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when defenses are not selling out with extra rushers or nickel and dime packages that thin out the box. Pair this with Mtn PA Cross Switch or Escort HB Split Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect both zone run action and complementary play action shots off similar formation looks, keeping linebackers honest and slowing their run fits.