Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Inside Zone out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex is a true zone run play with the HB aligned next to the QB and three receivers stacked to one side with a flexed TE. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, working double teams at the point of attack and climbing to the second level to seal off linebackers, while the flexed TE and trips receivers occupy the perimeter defenders and safeties to prevent quick run support. The primary read is the HB reading the frontside double team and cutback lane, pressing the mesh point and deciding between the bend, bang, or bounce cut based on how the defensive front flows.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth, a single high safety with a stacked box signals run support and a potential run blitz. Watch for linebackers cheating downhill at the snap, aggressive linebacker flow opens up cutback lanes for the HB on the backside. Man coverage on the outside with press corners often means the defense is selling out on the box, this is a green light to run Inside Zone. If the defense shows a bear front or heavy blitz look with extra defenders crashing the line, this play struggles and you should pivot to HB Draw or a quick pass instead. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender flowing hard to one gap, that lurk or spy threat tells the HB to cut away from pursuit and find the opposite crease.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since trips formations pull an extra defender away from the run fit.
Look for defenses that spin a safety down into the box, if that happens consider audibling to a perimeter play like Charger Wheel or PA Fork to punish the light coverage instead.
Use the right stick to manually control the HB through the mesh point, patience is key so let the double teams develop before committing to a gap.
Pair this play with RPO Zone Alert Omaha in your call sheet so the defense has to respect both the run and the quick pass read off the same look.
Best called on early downs, first and ten or second and short, when you want to establish tempo and force the defense to respect the run before dialing up Dagger or Post Rail off the same formation.
