Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel, with the HB aligned offset behind the QB and taking a weak side zone track. The offensive line flows in unison with zone steps to seal the play side and create a natural cutback lane, while both TEs stay in-line to reinforce the point of attack. This is a pure run play with no play-action or route concept attached, and the primary read progression for the HB is play side gap to cutback lane, keying the flow of the defensive line before pressing downhill.
Defensive Reads
Watch for stacked boxes with seven or eight defenders, since heavy fronts and run blitzes will beat this play at the line before the zone can develop. Key linebacker depth pre-snap, shallow linebackers crashing downhill signal a run blitz that the HB needs to bounce outside of. Identify if the defense is in a one-gap penetrating front versus a two-gap read front, since two-gap fronts are easier to seal for zone blocking. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the play side, this often opens the backside cutback lane for a chunk gain. Beware of Cover 0 or Cover 1 with a robber safety sitting in the box, since that extra run defender can clog the cutback lane.
Usage Tips
Attack light boxes by checking pre-snap for six or fewer defenders in the box, since HB Zone Wk relies on numbers advantage up front.
Use this as a base run to set up play-action shots later, especially PA Boot Roll or PA Ctr Waggle which sell the same zone action.
Against defenses that key run flow with linebackers, mix in HB Stretch Alert X Smoke or HB Stretch Alert X Lookie to punish overpursuit with the alert receiver.
Run this play on early downs, first and ten or second and medium, to stay balanced and keep defenses honest against your play-action package in this set.
Manually control the play side guard or center after the snap to help seal the first wave and open the cutback lane for the HB.
