Playbooks

Z Close Toss

Shotgun·Wing Slot Offset·12

Toss Run Play

Play diagram for Z Close Toss from Shotgun Wing Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

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Breakdown

Z Close Toss is a shotgun HB toss out of the Wing Slot Offset 12 personnel look, with the tight end tucked in tight to the formation as an extra wing blocker. The offensive line and wing execute a toss blocking scheme that pulls flow to the perimeter, with the running back taking the pitch and pressing outside to get on the edge before making a north south cut. This is a pure run play designed to attack the edge with numbers, and the primary read is the running back reading the edge blocks from the wing and tackle to decide whether to bounce outside or cut it up inside the alley defender.

Defensive Reads

Read the edge defender and outside linebacker alignment pre-snap. If they are crashing hard inside, this play has a clean bounce lane to the sideline. Watch for a cornerback playing tight run support on the toss side. An aggressive corner who diagnoses toss quickly can blow this up before the blocks set. Check safety depth in the box. A single high safety look often means less immediate outside help, favoring the toss, while two deep safeties can rotate down late and threaten the edge. Beware of quick flow linebackers and scrape exchange defenses that flow hard to the toss side, since they can beat your blockers to the landmark and force a cutback. Look for defenders keying the wing tight end for an edge blitz or contain call, since disciplined edge defenders who stay home on the toss action are the biggest threat to this concept.

Usage Tips

Use this out of obvious run downs early in the drive to establish tempo and set up your play action shots later in the set like PA Dig or PA Slide.

Check the defensive front pre-snap. If you see a heavy box with 8 or more defenders, consider audibling to Read Option or RPO Zone Alert Hitches instead.

Motion is not required here, so use the pre-snap window to identify the alley defender and safety depth so you know which gap to user control as the ball carrier hits the edge.

Pair this with Inside Zone or Duo in the same set to keep defenses honest between inside zone runs and this outside toss look, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.

User the lead wing blocker at the point of attack to seal the edge defender and manually adjust your leverage block if the CB is playing aggressive run support from depth.