Playbooks

Inside Zone

Shotgun·Wing Trio·11

Inside Zone Run Play Zone Run

Play diagram for Inside Zone from Shotgun Wing Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Raiders OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Inside Zone from Shotgun Wing Trio is a straightforward zone run play designed to attack the interior gaps with the offensive line flowing laterally before climbing to their zone landmarks. The diagram shows the RB aligned next to the QB with a lead blocker or H-back in the backfield, and the offensive line covering down in a standard zone blocking scheme with double team combos at the point of attack that transition into the second level. This is a run play, not a pass or RPO, with the primary read being the playside double team and the backside cutback lane, letting the RB press the line and read blocks from the frontside A gap out to the backside cutback based on how the linebackers flow.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, identify if the defense is in a 4-3 under or over front since shaded nose tackles dictate which gap will be softer for the cutback. Watch linebacker depth off the ball, backers sitting at five yards or deeper give the RB more time to read blocks and find the crease before defenders trigger downhill. This run is vulnerable to gap exchange stunts and run blitzes where interior defenders shoot gaps before the zone blockers can climb, so respect A gap blitzes on short yardage downs. Man coverage on the perimeter with safeties rotated into the box is the ideal shell to attack since there is no extra run support beyond the front seven. Post snap, key the playside linebacker's first step, if he flows hard playside the backside cutback lane opens for a big gain, if he sits home the RB needs to trust the double team and stick playside. Zone blitzes disguised as standard fronts can be tricky, so watch for late defensive line shifts right before the snap that signal a stunt package.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs like first and ten or second and short when defenses are still guessing between run and pass out of shotgun personnel.

Check the linebacker depth and gap alignment pre snap, if both backers are stacked tight to the line expect quick fills and consider bouncing the run outside with the RB.

Pair Inside Zone with RPO Peek Y Pop or RPO Zone Peek out of the same Wing Trio set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the quick game answers off similar formation looks.

Against odd fronts with a nose shaded to one side, aim the RB opposite the shade to let the zone blocking climb cleanly to the second level.

Mix in HB Mid Zone from this same set to keep defenders honest on their fits since both plays share blocking landmarks but hit slightly different depths.

Take manual control of the fullback or H-back if present to seal the edge defender when the RB decides to bounce outside the tackle box.