Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Split Zone Strong is an inside zone run play out of Singleback Wing Tight U with 13 personnel. The line steps in unison to the strong side while the fullback aligned in the backfield crosses the formation to kick out the backside edge defender, creating a split zone action that gives the HB a true one cut, two gut lanes. This is a run play designed to attack light boxes, and the primary read progression starts with the playside double team at the point of attack before bouncing to the backside cutback lane if the split flow blocker seals his man.
Defensive Reads
Read the mike linebacker's alignment before the snap, if he is stacked over the playside guard he is a run fit problem and you should bounce this outside. Watch for a hard crash from the backside defensive end, that is the exact block the fullback is designed to remove, so a scraping linebacker behind him signals the cutback lane is there. Identify single high versus two high safety shells, single high defenses often bring an extra run fitter which makes this tougher to execute without a lead blocker of your own. Key the strong safety's depth, if he is sitting shallow in the box, he is a lurk threat against the cutback and you should stick with the called playside track. Beware nano blitzes or edge pressure packages that crash the fullback's kickout target before he can get outside, that timing disrupts the entire split flow concept and forces a negative play.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only run this into 6 or fewer defenders in the box for the best odds of a positive gain.
Use the fullback's split flow block as your primary cutback trigger, if he kicks his man out cleanly, bounce the HB backside for a home run angle.
Pair this with HB Power O and HB Counter Str from the same set so defenses cannot sit on one blocking scheme and linebackers start flowing wrong on the counter action.
Run this on early downs, first and second and ten, to keep defenses honest and set up PA Dive or Fake HB Zone QB Boot later in the series off the same look.
Against stacked fronts or heavy blitz packages, bail to Sluggo Spacing or Dragon Spacing from the same formation to punish the aggression through the air.
