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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
SFT Inside Zone is a zone run play out of Shotgun Trips X Nasty Off Wk with 11 personnel. The diagram shows the HB motioning across the backfield before taking a zone handoff, reading the double team blocks up front as the offensive line flows laterally to create a running lane. This is a pure run play designed to attack gaps created by zone blocking, with the primary read being the playside double team and the backside cutback lane if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker depth at the snap since shallow linebackers crashing downhill can be gashed by a quick cutback if the interior double team wins. Identify if the defense is running a bear front or overloaded box, which clogs inside zone lanes and forces a longer developing cutback read. Key the strong safety after the HB motion since a safety who creeps into the box signals run support and a tighter alignment to defeat. User the playside linebacker or mike to fill the A gap immediately, since this play is vulnerable to a well timed inside linebacker blitz that beats the zone blocking scheme. Look for cornerbacks staying in coverage on the trips side, since if they stay put the box numbers favor the offense and the zone run should hit clean.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or slot corner, which reveals man versus zone coverage before the snap.
Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and set up play-action shots later in the drive.
If the defense stacks the box with eight or more defenders, consider hot routing the trips receivers into quick outs to force a defender out of the run fit.
Pair this play with SFT PA Curl Seam from the same set since the identical formation and motion disguise run versus pass intent.
Trust your zone blocking and take what the double team gives you rather than forcing the ball outside against a shaded nine technique.
