Playbooks

QB Zone

Shotgun·Trips TE·11

Designed Qb Run Run Play

Play diagram for QB Zone from Shotgun Trips TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

QB Zone from Shotgun Trips TE is a designed quarterback zone run that sends the QB through a zone blocking scheme with the offensive line flowing laterally to create a natural cutback lane. Three receivers are stacked to the trips side and the TE and HB align tight to the formation, all releasing on routes to hold defenders in coverage rather than block, which pulls second level defenders away from the box. The primary read is the frontside gap: the QB reads the first down lineman's block and decides whether to stick the initial hole or bounce it to the cutback lane based on how the defense flows.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth since a single high safety with six in the box is the ideal look for this run to hit. Key the playside linebacker's first step, if he flows hard with the zone action the cutback lane will open behind him. Watch for a spy or QB contain defender staying home on the edge, which is the primary counter that shuts this play down. Post-snap, user the middle linebacker and mirror the QB's path rather than committing to the initial flow, since gap exchange defense with a disciplined backside end is the biggest threat to this concept. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with safeties rotating late, the box is likely light and this run has a high chance of hitting the cutback for a explosive gain.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only run this into light boxes with six or fewer defenders since the trips receivers are not blocking anyone.

Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep defenses honest and set up your play action shots later in the set.

If the defense shows an overloaded front or a spy tendency, hot route one of the trips receivers into a quick out to widen a defender and open the cutback lane.

Pair this with Mtn PA Y Corner or PA Boot Shot from the same set so defenders who bit on the QB run get burned by play action off the identical formation look.

Avoid calling this against heavy blitz packages where the QB is the primary ball carrier and exposed to a free run at the mesh point, since there is no lead blocker shown in the design.