Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Inside Zone out of Shotgun Trey Open is a pure zone blocking run play with the offensive line stepping in unison toward the play side to create a natural cutback lane for the running back. The HB takes the handoff and reads the double team at the point of attack, working downhill through the A or B gap while the TE and Trey side WRs are not shown running routes here since this is a designated run concept, not a play-action look. The primary read progression is frontside double team first, then bounce to the backside cutback lane if the frontside gap gets clogged by flowing linebackers.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the depth of the middle linebacker and see if he is sitting on the line expecting run or backpedaling for pass, since a shallow MLB signals a stacked box ready to fill gaps fast. Watch for a 3-4 look with two off ball linebackers stacked behind the nose, this alignment is tough to gash on Inside Zone since both backers can read and flow freely without shedding blocks. Post-snap, key the defensive tackle alignment on the double team, if he gets moved off the line quickly the cutback lane opens up, if he holds ground the back should stick to the frontside gap. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the hole reading the mesh point, this is the biggest threat to Inside Zone since a good user can blow up both the frontside and cutback lanes if he does not bite on run action. This run struggles against odd fronts with an overloaded backside since the zone blocking scheme cannot consistently reach and seal defenders numbers up, especially against heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders into the box pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Run this out of 11 personnel Trey Open when you want to keep defenses honest against your pass-heavy sets in the same formation since it disguises run and pass looks equally well.
Attack base 4-3 and 3-4 fronts with light boxes, especially when the defense shows only six or fewer defenders in the box pre-snap.
Use your left stick to press the frontside double team hard and then plant off your outside foot to bounce backside if you see the backside defensive end get sealed or overpursue.
Pair this with HB Off Tackle and HB Counter from the same formation to keep linebackers guessing on flow direction and force them to play slower on the snap.
Best called on early downs like first and ten or second and short where defenses are more likely to sit in base personnel instead of nickel or dime sub packages.
