Playbooks

Mtn Outside Zone

Shotgun·Normal Off Close Wk·11
Run Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn Outside Zone is a run play out of Shotgun 11 personnel that stretches the defense laterally before the back presses vertically. The offensive line executes zone steps moving in one direction, with the playside tackle and tight end reaching their assignments while the backside blockers cut off pursuit, giving the running back a wide track to bounce outside or press the alley cutback lane. The primary read progression is the running back reading the playside tackle and tight end double team first, then working through the alley defender to decide between bouncing to the edge or cutting back through the mike linebacker gap.

Defensive Reads

Identify the box count pre-snap and check for a nine man front or overloaded strong side, since a stacked box with an extra linebacker or safety in the alley kills the cutback lane and forces a negative play. Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker for a hard crash inside, which signals the defense is selling out on the cutback and opens the bounce outside if your tight end can seal the edge. Key the flow of the mike linebacker after the snap, since a downhill fast flowing mike defeats zone rushing while a slow reading or gap exchange linebacker gives the back a clean cutback window. User controlled defenders sitting in the backfield or spying pre-snap are a red flag, as a smart user player will crash the alley or shoot the cutback gap the instant they see zone action. Beware run blitzes and contain add pressure from the edges, since a defense that brings extra numbers off the edge on early downs can blow up outside zone before the tight end or tackle can seal their reach block.

Usage Tips

Run this out of a run heavy personnel look to disguise it against defenses expecting the RPO or play-action shots from this set since Mtn Outside Zone shares the same formation with RPO Zone Alert and RPO Zone Peek.

Attack light boxes with only six or fewer defenders in the box before the snap, since outside zone loses value the moment the defense stacks the alley with an extra safety or nickel defender.

Use pre-snap motion or a quick shift to bait linebackers into flowing hard one direction, then hot route the tight end to a chip block if you see an edge defender crashing down too fast off the snap.

Pair this play with RPO Zone Alert or RPO Zone Peek earlier in a series so the defense has to respect the zone track before you go back to a pure hand off, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.

Best called on early downs, second and short, or first and ten when you want to establish tempo and set up play-action shots like Mtn PA Y Sit or PA Y Cross later in the drive.

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