Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn WR Outside Zone is an outside zone run out of Shotgun Tight Y Off with 11 personnel, featuring a wide receiver motion across the formation before the snap to bring an extra hat to the play side. The offensive line flows laterally to the play side with zone-blocking steps, working combo blocks and climbing to the second level while the motion man arrives to seal or crack the edge defender. This is a zone run play designed to stretch the defense horizontally, giving the running back a track to read the first double team and bounce outside or cut back based on the flow of the defensive front.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker depth and flow, if he crashes hard down the line immediately the cutback lane behind the zone blocks will be wide open. Watch for a defensive end or outside linebacker staying home to string the play out, this contain technique is the primary counter to outside zone and forces the back to bounce into extra defenders. Identify whether the motion man is picked up by a defender running with him across the formation, this reveals man coverage and tells you the edge will be less crowded since that defender is occupied. Look for a safety rotating down into the box pre-snap, this signals the defense is loading the front to stop the zone run and you should be ready to check into a play-action or RPO alert from the same formation. A user-controlled linebacker sitting in the B-gap or shooting a nano blitz off the edge can blow up the play design before the line can climb, so account for that alignment and be ready to cut inside quickly if he overcommits outside.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone coverage, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are getting man coverage and can attack the edge with confidence.
Call this play on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short to medium) when you want to keep the defense honest and set up second level shots off the same zone action.
Watch the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box the numbers favor the zone run, if a safety cheats down to seven in the box consider checking to a pass.
Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Glance, RPO Zone Alert Omaha, or RPO Zone Alert Bubble from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the perimeter throw off identical zone blocking looks.
Take manual control of the running back and press the line hard before making your cut, patience through the first level combo blocks lets the zone action develop and opens the cutback lane if the defense flows too fast.
