Playbooks

Inside Zone

Shotgun·Trips TE Flex·11

Inside Zone Run Play Zone Run

Play diagram for Inside Zone from Shotgun Trips TE Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Inside Zone from Shotgun Trips TE Flex is a zone run play design with the RB aligned offset to the QB's side, running a downhill zone path behind a full zone blocking scheme up front. The three trips receivers and the flex TE stay in as decoys with no route assignments shown, keeping the defense honest against a heavy pass personnel look while the offensive line executes zone step blocking to create a natural cutback lane. Primary read progression is the playside gap first, working to the cutback lane if the playside is clogged, letting the RB press the line and read the flow of the linebackers.

Defensive Reads

Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense stacks the box with 7 or more defenders against this trips look, expect a run blitz and consider audibling. Watch linebacker depth and alignment, shaded linebackers who cheat toward the play side signal a run key that can be exploited with a cutback. Identify single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, which typically leave the box light and favor this inside zone run over defenses in two high shells. User linebackers who key the mesh point aggressively can be baited into flowing hard, opening the backside cutback lane for a big gain. Nano blitzes or interior line stunts can blow up the zone blocking scheme quickly, so be ready to check the play at the line if you see stacked defensive tackles crashing inside.

Usage Tips

Attack light boxes with 6 or fewer defenders in the box since the trips TE flex alignment often pulls a linebacker or safety out to match the three receiver look.

Use pre-snap motion or a hot route on one of the trips receivers to bait the defense into revealing man versus zone coverage before the snap.

Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay balanced and keep defenses from selling out on pass sets against your trips formation.

Pair this with PA Fork or RPO Zone Alert Omaha out of the same set so defenses cannot sit on run reads once they see the trips TE flex personnel.

Trust the RB to press the line hard and let the zone blocking develop, avoid bailing to the cutback too early against disciplined linebacker flow.