Playbooks

Same Side Zone

Shotgun·Doubles·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Bengals OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bengals OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Same Side Zone is a run play out of Shotgun Doubles that directs the offensive line and fullback flow to the same side of the formation, creating a hard downhill lane for the HB to press. This is a run play built on zone blocking principles, not a man beater or zone beater in the passing game sense, so the primary read progression belongs to the running back reading his blockers rather than a quarterback progressing through routes. The RB primary read is the playside double team at the point of attack, bouncing outside if the edge is sealed or cutting back if the backside linebacker overpursues.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a stacked box with an extra safety or linebacker crashing down presnap, which signals the defense is selling out to stop the zone run and you should consider an audible. Identify if the defensive line is shading strong to the play call side, since heavy shifts toward the zone run direction will clog the playside gaps and force an immediate cutback read. Key the backside defensive end and linebacker for contain discipline, since disciplined edge players who stay home will kill the cutback lane and force the back to bounce outside into pursuit. Look for blitz packages sending extra defenders off the edge on the play side, which can beat the zone blocking scheme before the double team develops. Man coverage on the perimeter receivers can bait a defender into peeking the run action, opening a lurking cutback lane if the second level defenders overcommit to run fits.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first and second and ten to keep defenses honest and avoid becoming predictable in obvious passing situations.

Check the defensive front pre-snap and look for light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box before snapping it, since stacked eight man fronts will bog down the zone blocking.

Use manual motion or shifts to identify if the defense is running with the flow, which tells you whether the linebackers are reading run keys aggressively or sitting back in coverage responsibility.

Pair this play with Inside Zone and HB Counter in the same set to keep linebacker flow guessing, since all three hit different gaps but look similar at the snap.

Take control of the fullback or lead blocker with the user controlled defender mechanic if you need to manually seal an edge defender who is crashing down too fast for the AI blocker to handle.

Mix in PA Zone Read or PA Read Boot off this same formation to punish linebackers who bite hard on the zone run action.

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