Playbooks

Same Side Zone

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Close·11

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Breakdown

Same Side Zone is a run play out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close that runs the zone blocking scheme to the same side as the running back's alignment, hence the name. The offensive line executes zone steps in unison, working combo blocks at the point of attack before climbing to the second level against linebackers, while the play side flow forces the defense to fit gaps quickly. The primary read is the play side double team: the running back presses the hole, reads the double team block, and decides between the bend back cutback lane or pressing through the play side crease based on how the defensive line and linebackers flow.

Defensive Reads

Identify the defensive front pre-snap, Same Side Zone beats even fronts and light boxes but struggles against odd fronts with a stacked nose over the play side guard. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, linebackers who sit tight to the line and flow hard downhill open up the cutback since the backside pursuit can't recover in time. Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they crash down hard on the zone action the cutback lane behind the double team becomes the primary path. User controlled defenders sitting in the hole or spying the mesh point are the biggest threat, if you see a user linebacker sitting still instead of flowing with the play fake the cutback and stay patient. Against blitz heavy defenses expect a fast flowing linebacker crashing through the play side gap, which actually helps this run since it creates a bigger cutback lane once the double team locks him out.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since zone runs get gummed up against stacked fronts.

Use the running back's jump cut or the momentum based cut move at the mesh point rather than mashing the cutback stick immediately, patience at the line lets the zone blocks develop and opens the cutback lane.

This play works best on early downs, first and second and short to medium, when defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts instead of loading up nickel or dime blitz packages.

Pair Same Side Zone with RPO Zone Snag or RPO Zone Stick from the same set to keep the same run action look while giving yourself a bail out throw against defenders crashing down on the zone action.

Once the defense starts selling out to stop the run, sequence into PA Boot or Mtn PA Boot off the same personnel and formation to hit the play action rollout and punish overaggressive linebacker flow.

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