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ELWAY AND ZIGGY Using “Z Check” and Option Principles to Stop the Zone Read

by: Matt Johnston
Defensive Graduate Assistant • William Penn University
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The zone read is a very dynamic play that can confuse the defense and force them into mismatches. However, there are several ways to stop this play and put the offense in lose-lose situations. I have spent time on both sides of the ball and, as an offensive coordinator, the zone read was the first play implemented and we had great success with it. It is a play that can have many options and complementary plays off of the same look. The zone read begins and ends with the QB and his ability to make reads and make plays with the ball. Defensively, it is our goal to make his job as difficult as possible and force the offense into mistakes.

Our primary objective is to take away what the offense does best. We want to eliminate their best plays and shut down their best players. It is with that direction that we approach a team who runs the zone read successfully. First, we will decide which player is the greater play-making threat, the TB or the QB. Then, we will align our defense to stop that player. There are many teams that run the zone read without a dynamic runner at the QB position. We will not let these teams get away with that and we will force the QB to run the ball. However, other teams may have a phenomenal athlete at QB and we do not want to give him any space to make plays. In this case, we will force him to give the ball to the RB every time.

Stopping the QB is easy. We will simply play option rules. When we get the typical one-back zone look, we will give an “Elway” call, meaning the DE will stick on the QB. If the OT over the DE veers down, the DE will get up the field and put himself in a position to contain and tackle the QB. Although many teams are either “zone” or “scheme” blocking teams, some teams run both with great success. As a staff, we will determine what plays they will run out of certain formations. If they run with a single back long trap, then we will have to prepare our DE to look spill or meet the blocker in the hole and get to the QB when he gets a veer release by the OT. By spill, we mean the DE tries to meet the blocker in the hole and make the play bounce. His primary goal is to not get kick-out blocked.

Many teams will not run the DE trap out of a one-back gun, although some will. In that case, our DE must be prepared for both and follow the LB’s call. If the DE gets the “Elway” call, this warns him to be alert for the zone read and he is responsible for the QB. The DE will force the QB to give it and play it straight up. We have had very good DTs at William Penn and we have played against some very athletic QBs, so most of the time we took our chances with them giving the ball to the RB and keeping the entire play bottled up (See Diagram 1).

Diagam 1.

The alternative to the “Elway” call is the “Ziggy” call. The Ziggy call takes the ball out of the TB’s hands and forces the QB to run into unblocked defenders. Upon the OT’s veer release, the DE will now chase the TB down the line of scrimmage. He will take a flat path in order to make the play from behind either at the line of scrimmage or a yard or two in the backfield. Many defenses will do this with the backside OLB now becoming the QB player.

The common offensive adjustment is to have the OT veer step and block the B gap. If the DE is on his hip, he should peel back and block him. The QB will now read the OLB. If the OLB stays on the back side as he is the QB player, the QB will give the ball to the TB and the offense should have numbers on the play side. This is a solid adjustment but the Ziggy call takes this principle a step further (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2.

The Ziggy call tells the DE to chase the TB and forces the QB to either read the OLB or pull it and run. The Ziggy call tells the OLB and the Mike linebacker to take two distinct steps play side. They will be short downhill steps but to the offense the OLB and Mike will certainly be moving play side. To the offense, the DE, Mike, OLB and essentially the entire front seven are running to the TB (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3.


After the initial two steps, the OLB and Mike will fly to the back side and fit the QB, the OLB on the outside and the Mike on the inside. Whether the QB is reading the DE or the OLB, he will have to pull the ball and run and that is exactly what we want him to do. The Ziggy call is essentially a stunt for the LBs and DE. We want the offense to get a false read and run into two unblocked LBs. An OLB may not be a great match-up for an athletic QB one-on-one, but both the OLB and the Mike should win every time. Keeping the option principles in mind, the Ziggy call tells our DEs that they are RB players (See Diagrams 4 and 5).

Diagram 4.



Diagram 5: Ziggy can be a great call against teams that run the dart play or similar plays where the backside DE is unblocked and the front side is schemed.


Coaching the linebacker fits is essential to the success of this stunt. The backside OT (if he does not block the DE) will be climbing to the second level and he is looking to block the OLB. Whether it is a give or a QB keep, the OT is taught to look for the OLB. The OLB must fit outside of the OT and turn the play back into the unblocked Mike linebacker. Even if the opponent runs the bubble option off of this play, the OLB wants to be outside the QB inviting him to keep it and run into the Mike, or throw it into the area of the SS and CB with the OLB in pursuit (See Diagram 6).

Diagram 6.

About the Author: Matt Johnston is currently in his second season at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.. He is a Defensive Graduate Assistant coaching linebackers. He previously was the Offensive Coordinator at Warren Fitzgerald High School (MI) and also coached running backs at Adrian College. Johnston is a graduate of Adrian and a three-time letterwinner.






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