Playbooks

Zone Split Alert Smoke

Singleback·Wing·12

Inside Zone Run Play Zone Run

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetWing

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

Fix OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Zone Split Alert Smoke is an inside zone run out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that gives the offense a built-in bailout via the Smoke alert. The offensive line executes a standard zone blocking scheme, with double teams at the point of attack that climb to the second level while the fullback or extra tight end seals the edge. This is fundamentally a run play, but the Alert Smoke tag lets you check to a quick bubble or smoke screen if you diagnose an overloaded box or hard downhill blitz pre-snap. Your primary read starts with the playside double team and the linebacker flow, and if the box count is unfavorable, you bail to the Smoke alert as your outlet.

Defensive Reads

Check the box count before the snap, since six or more defenders in the box should trigger your alert check to the smoke route instead of handing it off. Watch linebacker depth and flow, if they crash hard downhill on run action, the backside cutback lane opens for the zone run. Read the flat defender assigned to the smoke route, if he is playing off or shaded inside, the bubble screen wins outside for easy yards. Cover 3 sky and Cover 4 shells with aggressive slot corners can jump the smoke route, so if you see a press corner sitting at five yards, stick with the run instead. User controlled defenders flying downhill to stop the zone run leave the smoke throw wide open, so watch the stick and reset your read the instant the line moves.

Usage Tips

Use the Alert Smoke check whenever you see six or more defenders stacked in the box pre-snap, since the numbers game favors the throw over the run in that situation.

Bring up your run blocking gauge or watch the linebacker depth before the snap to decide if this is a hand off or an audible into the smoke route.

This play pairs well with 26 Duo and HB Stretch Alert Smoke since all three threaten the same gap logic and force linebackers to respect zone flow before you sequence in the alert throws.

On early downs like first and ten, take the inside zone hand off against base fronts to stay ahead of the chains and set up your play action shots later in the series.

If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 3 with the corner sitting deep, take the smoke throw immediately since the flat is uncontested and the corner cannot close in time.