Playbooks

Same Side Zone

Shotgun·Tight Open·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTight Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 10 playbooks

Buccaneers OffenseOffense Cardinals OffenseOffense Falcons OffenseOffense Giants OffenseOffense Packers OffenseOffense NFL Live Buccaneers OffenseOffense NFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffense NFL Live Falcons OffenseOffense NFL Live Giants OffenseOffense NFL Live Packers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Same Side Zone out of Tight Open Shotgun is a run play that sends the offensive line and the HB action to the same side of the formation, hence the name, giving the runner a designed zone track with double team blocks up front to move the play side defensive tackle and end. This is a base run concept, not a pass or RPO, built to create a clean double team at the point of attack while the backside is cut off to prevent backdoor pursuit. The primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the play side double team, read the play side linebacker fill, and decide between the bend lane off the double team or bouncing outside if the edge is sealed.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the linebackers are stacked over the play side guard and tackle, a heavy shade to the call side signals a run blitz or crash designed to blow up the double team before it forms. Watch safety alignment, a single high safety who rotates down hard to the play side often signals man coverage or a run support cheat that can outnumber the box, this is when defenders should key run fast and fill downhill. Cornerback positioning on the play side tells you if there is a force defender ready to set the edge, if the corner is playing off and soft, the ball carrier can bounce this run outside for a bigger gain. Post snap, defenders should key the play side linebacker, if he reads the double team quickly and stays square without getting sealed, this shuts the play down and forces a cutback that the backside pursuit should be ready to clean up. Look for a user controlled defender flowing hard to the play side call, if the user overcommits to the zone action, the backside cutback lane becomes the bigger explosive gain opportunity for the offense.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs, first and second and short to medium yardage, when you want to stay balanced and set up play action shots later in the drive from this same Tight Open personnel.

Check the box count pre-snap, if you see six or more defenders stacked to the play side call side, consider audibling to Inside Zone or HB Draw instead since Same Side Zone loses its numbers advantage against overloaded fronts.

Pair this run with Mtn HB Draw and Read Option from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple run looks out of identical formation and personnel, this keeps linebackers honest and slows down their run fits.

Against odd fronts with a 3 technique shaded to the play side call, this play hits hard because the double team can wash the defensive tackle down and open a natural bend lane for the HB.

If the defense is stacking the box on early downs, sequence this run with Y Cross or Mesh Spot out of the same formation to hit the play action or quick pass window once linebackers start creeping up.