Playbooks
Mtn Inside Zone Split is a run play out of the Shotgun Y Off Trio Close WK set that hands the ball off on a traditional inside zone track with split flow blocking up front. The offensive line zone steps in unison to the play side while the HB reads the double team and B gap combo before deciding to bend it back or press downhill, making it a run play rather than a man or zone beater by design. Primary read progression starts with the frontside double team at the point of attack, then works to the backside cutback lane if the play side gets clogged by an extra defender in the box.
Look at the defensive tackle alignment pre-snap, since a 1-technique shaded to the play side call side gap will force an earlier cutback read. Watch the Mike linebacker's depth off the ball, if he is sitting shallow at four yards he can beat the zone flow and blow up the play at the mesh point. Identify if the defense is in a run blitz look with a safety crashing down into the box, that alignment shuts this play down quickly and should trigger an audible to a play-action pass instead. Check for user controlled defensive linemen shooting gaps immediately after the snap, since a jumped snap count on a nano style blitz can beat the zone blocking before the double team forms. Man coverage on the perimeter with the slot defender walked up tight suggests the defense is selling out to stop the run, which is when you should counter with Mtn X-Dig Slot Corner or Mtn Slot Choice from the same set to attack vacated zones.
Check the box count before the snap and only run this into 6 or fewer defenders in the box to avoid a free hitter at the mesh point. Use motion or a quick glance at the Mike linebacker depth to see if he is sitting flat footed or cheating toward the play side gap, since that dictates whether you press the hole or plan an early cutback. Pair this with Mtn Duo out of the same set so defenders cannot sit on one blocking scheme and start jumping gaps early in the down. Against odd fronts with a stacked backer look, hot route the TE to a quick chip and release to add a extra blocker on the edge before working vertical. This play shines on early downs, especially first and ten or second and short, where defenses are more likely to stay in base personnel and light boxes. Mix in Mtn RPO Alert Swing from the same set to punish teams that key run fits too hard, since the RPO tag threatens the perimeter off the same zone action.