Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Inside Zone out of Shotgun Doubles Z Close is a pure zone run play, showing five offensive linemen zone blocking in unison with the RB aligned next to the QB in the backfield for a mesh point handoff. Both outside receivers and the slot are stationed wide as decoys with no route paths drawn, meaning this is a true run play with no built in RPO or pass option shown in the diagram. The primary read progression is the frontside double team combo at the point of attack, with the RB pressing the line and reading the first down lineman to the backside linebacker flow before deciding to bend the run backside or press it downhill.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the Mike linebacker depth and alignment since he is the primary run fit defender you need to control or manipulate with play action later. Check for a stacked box or an extra defender rotated down from a single high safety shell, both are bad news for interior zone runs and signal you should bail to a pass concept from this set. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender flowing hard downhill or shooting a gap on a designed nano blitz look, that is the biggest threat to blow up inside zone before the double team can climb. Defenses in a two high shell with light boxes are the best matchup for this run since it forces linebackers to read and react instead of firing off the snap. If the defense shows heavy blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line or a safety cheating down late, get out of this run and into a quick game answer.
Usage Tips
Run this out of a passing personnel look like 11 personnel to disguise run intent and keep the defense honest against your play-action shots from this same set. Use it on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay on schedule without tipping your hand. Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or more in the box with no clear overhang defender, consider audibling to a perimeter play instead. Pair this with RPO Glance Post and RPO Zone Peek Glance from the same formation so linebackers have to respect the run fake before crashing downhill. Mix in HB Draw as a change of pace since both plays share the same shotgun alignment and force linebackers to freeze on run reads before diagnosing.
