Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Wide Zone Wk is an outside zone run out of Singleback Trips Open with 10 personnel, sending the HB toward the weak side away from the trips WR bunch. The offensive line flows laterally to seal the edge and create a cutback lane, while the three receivers to the strong side and the backside X simply run off their defenders to occupy coverage. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater through the air, and the primary read is the HB reading the edge blocks (playside tackle and tight end/FB if present) first, then working backside for a cutback if the front flows too hard.
Defensive Reads
Look for linebacker depth at the snap since shallow, aggressive linebackers get gashed by the cutback lane if they overpursue the zone flow. Identify if the defense is in a one high shell with the trips side rotated down, since that often signals a run blitz or extra defender crashing the edge. Watch the playside defensive end and outside linebacker for a hard crash inside, which tells the HB to bounce it outside immediately. User the backside linebacker or safety to spy the cutback lane, since this is the primary escape route once the front flows too far playside. Stacked fronts with two down linemen shaded to the play side and a linebacker filling the alley will shut this down, so be ready to check to a cutback-friendly play like HB Draw if you see that alignment.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes of six or fewer defenders since the trips side pulls a defender away from the run fit.
Use this play on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains without overcommitting to a pass-heavy trips look.
Motion or check into HB Slam or HB Trap from the same formation to keep linebackers guessing between inside zone and outside zone tempo.
If the defense shows heavy overload to the play side pre-snap, hot route the backside X into a quick out or slant as a bailout option since he is uncovered.
Pair this with PA Streak or PA FL Stretch later in a series to punish linebackers who bite hard on the zone flow with their eyes in the backfield.
