Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Zone Toss is a zone toss run out of Singleback U Off Trips with 12 personnel on the field. The offensive line and TEs execute a zone blocking scheme flowing to the play side, reaching and sealing defenders to create a cutback lane while the HB takes the pitch and reads the edge before pressing downhill. This is a pure run play with no route concept attached, so the primary read is the HB's aiming point off the toss: bounce outside if the edge is sealed or cut back inside if the defense flows too hard to the toss side.
Defensive Reads
Watch for scrape exchange linebackers who stay disciplined on their zone assignment, since they are the key defenders who can blow up the cutback lane. Identify if the defense is running a hard edge force scheme with the defensive end or outside linebacker staying home, which forces the HB to cut back inside. Check safety depth pre-snap, since a safety rotating down into the box pre-snap signals run support that can outnumber the toss to the play side. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the toss side, as this often opens a lane for a quick cutback if the offensive line seals the backside correctly. This play struggles against fast-flowing linebackers in a 4-3 under front or heavy run blitz packages that crash the edge before the pulling blockers get set.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only call this into light boxes of six or fewer defenders since the toss needs a numbers advantage to hit.
Look for linebackers cheating outside the tackle box or safeties creeping down, since aggressive run fits get gashed by the natural cutback lane this zone scheme creates.
Use motion across the formation before the snap to identify man versus zone coverage and to potentially draw a defender out of the box.
Pair this with Inside Zone and HB Counter Str in your play-calling sequence so defenses cannot key on toss action alone, then mix in PA Boot Slide off similar backfield action to keep linebackers honest.
Save this for early down situations like first and ten or second and short where defenses are more likely to be in base personnel and less stacked against outside runs.
