Playbooks

Same Side Zone

Shotgun·Normal Y Off·11

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Same Side Zone is an outside zone run out of Shotgun Normal Y Off with 11 personnel, sending the offensive line and blockers flowing to the same side as the running back's alignment. The tight end and playside tackle work combo blocks at the point of attack while the backside blockers reach and cut off pursuit, giving the running back a stretch and bang or bounce decision. This is a zone beater run play, and the primary read progression is the running back reading the playside double team, then the edge defender's leverage to decide between hitting the bang cut, bouncing outside, or cutting back against overpursuit.

Defensive Reads

Watch the playside linebacker depth before the snap, if he is stacked tight behind the defensive line he is likely running downhill fast and you should plan your cutback read early Identify whether the defense is in a one high or two high shell, single high safeties tend to trigger run support faster which opens cutback lanes, while two high shells often keep an extra defender in the box longer and clog the stretch Key the playside defensive end's first step, if he crashes inside hard to spill the play, bounce it outside immediately, if he sits and reads, take the bang cut for a gap shot Look for a user linebacker flying downhill or spying the running back, since aggressive human control defenders will overrun the play if you patiently set up the cutback Recognize nano blitz packages or edge pressure designed to blow up zone runs, if you see extra defenders crashing off the edge pre-snap consider checking to a different concept or pairing this look with a quick RPO alert instead of forcing the run

Usage Tips

Use this play against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the numbers advantage lets your running back win at the point of attack without extra help

Check the pre-snap alignment of the playside defensive end and outside linebacker, if they are crashing hard down the line every snap this is your cue to set up a cutback lane or pair this call with a bootleg off the same look

Motion the running back or use a quick pre-snap shift to confirm whether the defense is base aligned or shifting into an odd front, since Same Side Zone loses value against gap exchange fronts unless you manually user the fullback or lead blocker

Pair this play with PA Same Side Boot or Zone Fake Jet from the same set to freeze linebackers who key run fits aggressively, then hit them with the play action counterpart once they overcommit

Best used on early downs, first and second and short, or in short yardage and goal line situations where you want to control tempo and force the defense to respect the run before dialing up RPO Zone Peek or RPO Peek Slant out of the same personnel

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