Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Outside Zone from Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str is a zone run play with three receivers stacked to one side and the RB aligned next to the QB, stepping laterally toward the play side before pressing the edge. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, flowing in unison toward the play side to reach block and wall off defenders, giving the back a stretch aiming point outside the tackle. The primary read is the frontside edge and D-gap: the ball carrier presses the line, reads the block angles from the play side tackle and TE, and decides whether to bounce it outside or cut back based on how the defensive front flows.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap: stacked or crept up linebackers signal run support and a tougher day bouncing outside. Identify single high versus two high safety shells, since Outside Zone gains more cutback room against two high looks with fewer run fits in the box. Post-snap, key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker leverage: if they squeeze hard inside, bounce it outside; if they stay wide, cut it back through the vacated B-gap. Beware of user-controlled defenders spying the backfield or flowing hard to the sideline, as a disciplined user linebacker can blow this play up by staying square and not overpursuing. Nickel and dime fronts with lighter boxes are prime beat-down targets, while heavy run-blitz packages or a jumped nano blitz off the edge will shut down the stretch look before it develops.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the front to avoid a numbers disadvantage.
Use the stick or slide protection audible if you see a run blitz or extra defender crashing the edge, since Outside Zone is vulnerable to fast flow from an overloaded front.
Manually control the play side tackle or TE for a split second after the snap to secure the reach block on a stunting end, then let the AI take over as your back presses the hole.
Pair this with Inside Zone from the same set to keep defenders honest on flow direction, then hit them with RPO Zone Peek or RPO Zone Peek Pop off similar mesh action to punish overaggressive linebackers.
This works best on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when defenses are still base personnel and have not loaded the box for run support.
