Playbooks

Mid Zone

Shotgun·Doubles Y-Flex·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Dolphins OffenseOffense NFL Live Dolphins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mid Zone is an inside zone run play out of the Doubles Y-Flex set that gives the offensive line a wide zone blocking track to the play side while the tight end and both wide receivers occupy defenders on the perimeter. The running back reads the double team at the point of attack and can bend the run outside or cut it back through the backside cutback lane depending on how the front flows. This is a run play, not a pass concept, so the primary read progression starts with the frontside double team and A gap, then moves to the backside cutback if the linebackers overflow.

Defensive Reads

Check the depth of the Mike and Will linebackers pre-snap, since linebackers sitting at five yards or deeper signal a run blitz or quick fill that favors a bounce outside. Watch for a stacked box with eight or more defenders, which suggests the CPU or user is selling out to stop the run and may open up a cutback lane if the edge defender crashes hard. Identify single high versus two high safety shells, since single high alignments often bring a safety down into the box making the cutback riskier but the edge weaker. Post snap, key the play side defensive tackle and outside linebacker leverage, if they get washed by the double team the running back should stick to the frontside gap. This play struggles against disciplined gap control defenses that stay square and read blocks, especially if the user controls the Mike linebacker and plugs the cutback lane immediately after the snap.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the Mike linebacker alignment to confirm if the defense is stacked in the box before snapping.

Attack this play against odd fronts or bear fronts where interior gaps are compressed, since the zone blocking scheme creates natural rebound lanes when linebackers commit hard downhill.

Hot route the tight end into a stalk block or have him chip before releasing if you are facing a heavy blitz look, since Doubles Y-Flex leaves him uncovered for extra protection.

Pair Mid Zone with HB Draw and RPO Zone Peek in the same set to keep linebackers honest and slow down their run fits on early downs.

Best called on first and second down against base personnel, since nickel and dime fronts with lighter boxes make it harder to find a clean cutback lane.