Playbooks

Z Out

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Rams OffenseOffense NFL Live Rams OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Z Out is a quick-hitting man beater out of Shotgun Bunch TE that isolates the Z receiver on a hard out route while the bunch alignment creates natural rub traffic against man coverage defenders trying to trail him. The TE and HB work short breaking routes underneath to hold linebackers and give the QB a quick outlet if the outside corner sits on the out. Primary read progression starts with the Z on the out route for the timing throw to the boundary, then works down to the underneath crossers or flat routes if the corner jumps the route or if the defense shows zone leverage.

Defensive Reads

Check the corner over the Z presnap for tight man alignment, since the bunch rub is designed to beat exactly this look and will spring the out route open. Watch for a linebacker or safety sitting at the sticks in zone, because Z Out struggles against a hard cloud or squat corner sitting on the boundary throw. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with a flat defender staying home, look to the underneath TE or HB routes since the out route window closes quickly against zone drops. Identify user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow flat, as a smart human defender can jump the out route timing and bait the throw for a pick. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will speed up your progression, so be ready to get the ball out on time to the Z or dump it to the underneath outlet before the pocket collapses.

Usage Tips

Fire this out of the bunch look on early downs or third and short when you need a quick, high percentage completion against man coverage. Presnap, check for a corner playing tight outside technique on the Z since the rub from the bunch will spring him open on the out if the defense is in man. If you see two high safeties with soft corner alignment, hot route the Z to a quick out and up or bump the underneath TE route to a corner to attack the void between the flat and deep defenders. Use this play early in a series to set up Bunch Levels or Mtn TE Corner later since both threaten similar bunch spacing but attack different levels of the defense, forcing the defense to guess. Pair this with Triple Out on the next snap if the defense adjusts to bracket the out route, since Triple Out stresses the sideline even further with three route stems attacking the same zone.