Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Outside Zone from Shotgun Flex Y Off Wk is a zone run play design that sends the offensive line and TE flowing laterally to the play side with the HB taking a wide zone track and reading blocks from backside to playside. The diagram shows the entire front five blocking as a unit stepping in unison to the right, with no route concept since this is a run play built to stretch the defense horizontally before the HB picks his crease. The primary read is a one cut decision: the back presses the edge, reads the flow of the defensive line and edge defender, and cuts up through the first clean lane he finds rather than a set landmark.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, since stacked or crashing linebackers signal a run blitz that outside zone struggles against. Identify the play side edge defender's leverage, if he is squeezing hard down the line the back should look to bounce it outside. Post-snap, key the backside defensive end for contain, a disciplined end can string this play out and force a cutback that a fast flowing linebacker can clean up. This play struggles against gap exchange stunts and A gap blitzes that beat zone blocking before the line can get movement. It beats light boxes and defenses that spin safeties into two high shells, since that leaves fewer defenders to fit run gaps.
Usage Tips
Run this out of neutral early down and distance situations like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium to stay ahead of the sticks and keep defenses honest.
Check the box count pre-snap and if the defense has six or more in the box, consider audibling to a pass or motioning the HB out to check coverage.
Use stick motion or a TE shift to identify man versus zone before the snap, since man coverage will follow the motion man across the formation.
Pair this with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Glance Post from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the zone run without opening up quick throwing lanes for the QB.
On the stick, patiently press the play side before cutting back, and user the lead blocker if the game gives you control to seal the edge defender.
