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AFM Magazine


Complementary Runs Off of the Zone Read

by: Tom Herman
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Rice University
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We base our offense out of the Shotgun, while playing with one running back, one tight end and three WRs a majority of the time. Our ‘bread and butter’ run play that we hang our hat on is the inside zone read. We base our entire run game around finding ways to run that specific play while having complementary runs that allow us to be successful when defenses make it difficult to run the zone read.

The first complementary run we employ is the one-back power (See Diagrams 1-3). We feel that this run allows us to create double teams and angles at the point of attack, while providing us a ‘downhill’ run from the Shotgun. We will always run the one back power to a tight end and we will only run it to some form of six defenders in the box. We call this run when we are getting stagnant linebackers (i.e., trying to play both the frontside and backside of zone read) or when we are getting wide 9-techniques.

Diagram 1: 1 Back Power vs. 4-2

Diagram 2: 1 Back Power vs. 30

Diagram 3: 1 Back Power vs. 30 Stack

Vs. a four-man front, the play starts with the tight end base blocking the defensive end. This is a critical block at the point of attack and we communicate to our tight ends that they must simply fight to a tie with the defensive end in order to get the play started. We then double team or gap down to the backside linebacker. He should be playing slower due to the action in the backfield looking just like zone read. We then pull our backside guard for the frontside linebacker. He is taught to go through the C-gap; but if the C-gap disappears, he then bounces around the tight end’s block to get to the frontside linebacker. Our backside tackle blocks ‘B-gap to C-gap’ to help the center with any B-gap penetration and then comes back on the backside defensive end. The action in the backfield is exactly like our zone read; however, our quarterback does not read anyone and our running backs are taught to follow the inside leg of the pulling guard.

Our second complementary run to the zone read is simply a divide zone from the Shotgun (See Diagrams 4-6). We will run this play when we are getting a steady dose of ‘squeeze and scrape’ games by the backside defensive end and backside linebacker. We call this play from some form of tight end, wing formation or we will motion to get our tight end in this position. The entire play is blocked just like our inside zone read, except for the fact that we will now bring the tight end back across the ball to block the backside defensive end. This play is very effective vs. ‘squeeze and scrape’ defenses. This is due to the fact that we block the backside defensive end from a position where it is hard for him to see the block coming. Also, the backside linebacker, more times than not, scrapes himself out of the play, allowing for big cut-back lanes for our running backs.

Diagram 4: Zone Bend vs. 4-2

Diagram 5: Zone Bend vs. 30

Diagram 6: Zone Bend vs. 30 Stack

The last complementary run we will discuss is our same-side counter (See Diagrams 7-9). We will call this play when the backside defensive end is trying to play both our running back and quarterback by slow-playing the zone read. We will again run the counter from a tight end wing position. The frontside of the play should look exactly like the backside of our zone read to the defensive players. We will double-team or gap down to the backside linebacker and pull our backside guard to block the frontside defensive end. We will then pull our wing with depth to block the frontside linebacker. The action in the backfield should look just like our zone read for the running back’s first three steps. On his third step, the running back will plant vertically and follow the inside leg of the second puller.

Diagram 7: Counter vs. 4-2

Diagram 8: Counter vs. 30

Diagram 9: Counter vs. 30 Stack

These runs have helped us run our ‘bread and butter’ zone read more effectively and efficiently over the years. We hope that these plays will allow you and your team to have a more balanced, productive and multiple run game from spread formations.





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