Playbooks
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Breakdown
Outside Zone from Wing Trips Wk Nasty in Shotgun is a zone run play design with the HB taking a lateral handoff and pressing the play side edge before reading his blocks. The offensive line flows in unison to the play side, aiming to reach block and create a horizontal cutback lane rather than a fixed hole, while the wing and trips receivers to the weak side occupy defenders on the backside. The primary read progression is the HB reading the play side edge first, then working inside to the cutback lane if flow overpursues, keying off the reach block from the play side tackle and tight end.
Defensive Reads
Watch strong safety alignment before the snap, if he is stacked in the box near the play side edge he can blow up the reach block and force an immediate cutback read. Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker leverage, if they are crashing down hard the HB should plant and cut back against the grain. Look for user controlled defenders flashing down into the box late, this is a common way defenses stop outside zone by adding a run fit defender right before the snap. Base 4-3 or 3-4 fronts with linebackers reading run keys aggressively can string this play out to the sideline, so identify if the defense has fast flowing linebackers who consistently beat blockers to the edge. Cover 3 or Cover 1 with an extra run defender in the box is the toughest shell to beat here, while light boxes out of nickel or dime packages open up the cutback lane and make this run far more explosive.
Usage Tips
Attack light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box to give your offensive line favorable numbers on the reach blocks. Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to identify if the defense is running a nasty stack shift with the linebackers, since that alignment can clog the play side cutback lane. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or slant if you see a blitz look, this keeps a defender occupied and slows down backside pursuit. Pair this call with Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive so the defense has to respect both zone run directions, then come back to Outside Zone once linebackers start flowing hard to the inside gaps. Best used on early downs, especially first and ten or second and short, to keep the defense honest and set up play-action shots like PA Crossers or Y Mtn Drive later in the series.
