Playbooks

Mid Zone

Shotgun·Y Off Trips Wk·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Steelers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Steelers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mid Zone is an inside zone run play out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Wk that sends the offensive line flowing laterally with the running back reading blocking angles at the mesh point. This is a run play, not a man or zone pass beater, and the RB primary read progression starts at the playside A gap, bounces to the B gap if the frontside is clogged, and can bend backside if the defense overpursues. It scheme fits well against aggressive downhill linebackers and light boxes since the trips look pulls defenders away from the point of attack.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is stacked tight in the box expect quick downhill flow that Mid Zone can cut back against. Watch for a crashing defensive end or edge blitz off the trips side, since that quickly kills the frontside lane and forces an immediate cutback read. Identify single high versus two high safety shells, single high alignments often mean an extra run defender in the box which slows this play down. Look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the A gap or spying the mesh point, that lurk threat can blow up the primary inside read and should trigger the bounce to the B gap. Against odd fronts with a nose tackle head up on the center, expect double team blocking to hold up but the backside cutback lane to stay thin.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only run Mid Zone into light boxes of six defenders or fewer since the trips bunch does not add an extra blocker at the point of attack.

Use trips alignment to bait the defense into rotating a safety or nickel toward the passing strength, then attack the vacated backside cutback lane if linebackers flow hard playside.

Pair this with Boomerang Y Lead Read Option or Y Lead Read Option from the same set so the defense has to respect both gap run and read option looks out of an identical formation.

On early downs, run Mid Zone to set up RPO Zone Dive or Mtn RPO Dive later in a series since the run action pulls linebackers up and opens the RPO passing window behind them.

User the RB manually through the mesh point in short yardage to pick the best crease rather than trusting the CPU blocking logic on tight down and distance.

Other Plays in Y Off Trips Wk