Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Outside Zone out of Shotgun Tackle Over Trips is a zone run play designed to get the HB to the edge behind flowing zone blocks. The diagram shows the offensive line and TE (the tackle over side) all flowing laterally in the same direction, with the HB taking a wide angle path to stretch the defense before making a cutback read. The three Trips receivers are not part of the run action shown, meaning the read progression starts with the playside blocks: identify the first colored gap opening off the double team at the point of attack, then work to the cutback lane if flow is overpursuing.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker depth before the snap: linebackers cheating up close to the line signal they are keying run and will flow hard to the play side. Look at the defensive line technique; if the playside defensive end and tackle are shaded to attack gaps rather than read blocks, the zone scheme can get blown up quickly. Post-snap, track the flow of the second level defenders. If linebackers overrun the play side chasing the stretch action, the cutback lane behind the double team will be there. Identify user-controlled defenders flying downhill immediately after the snap, since aggressive user pursuit can be exploited with the cutback if they overcommit. This run is vulnerable to stacked fronts with extra defenders in the box or contain-conscious edge defenders (SAM or Will) who stay home instead of chasing flow.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if linebackers shift toward the Trips side, which tells you if the box is light for the zone run.
Check the defensive front alignment before the snap: a 4-3 or 3-4 base front with linebackers stacked tight is easier to stretch than an odd front with extra edge defenders.
Hot route a Trips receiver into a stalk block if you expect immediate outside contain from a cornerback, especially against aggressive man alignments.
Pair this play with RPO Read Bubble or RPO Bubble Y Pop from the same set so the defense has to respect both the zone run and the perimeter RPO threat.
Best used on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you want to keep the defense honest before dialing up HB Power O or PA Read out of the same formation.
