12 personnel zone read with both h back lead blocking and other slice variations

12 personnel zone read with both h back lead blocking is becoming a favorite of mine. You see teams like Michigan, Kansas and The Ravens running it.

You are starting to see more zone read out of 12 personnel with 2 h backs as pullers. It's a popular play youll see against teams both who spill as well as teams that don't because if the qb pulls the ball he will have 2 blockers on the perimeter. It is also effective against teams who want to spill everything as your pullers can read the spill and get around them to the 2nd level.

Many times teams will read the spiller and avoid him if he's looking to spill. It becomes a very effective concept.

Michigan, Kansas and the Ravens are the teams I have seen utilize the concept.

Michigan runs it as well as other teams.

Kansas below with both running backs in the backfield.

See the 2 h backs lead the play.

Good execution and they read the DE.

Get 2 h backs on the edge

QB keeps for a nice gain.

Another version of the same play. This time they come out in 3x1 and come back to the single side with it. Nice job of getting both h backs out in front and this play is a touchdown if the safety doesn't Make a great play. Penn State was trying to spill it and the h backs read it and get on the edge. Again a great scheme and Nice play by the Penn State td stopping it from being a td. 

Great when teams try to spill it.

Gets the qb on the edge with 2 pullers.

2 lead blockers in space.

Tough to defend

One more version of the play for a nice 15 yard gain.

Different set 

but they motion one h across and then lead with the other one. Again the DE comes down inside as the qb reads him and pulls it.

DE comes down to play the rb and qb pulls it for a big gain.

Gets on the edge with 2 blockers

Excellent design and another big gain.

More to come!

Great play and excellent design by Michigan and Kansas.

Dolphins Play Action Component

The Dolphins run play action off it.

The Dolphins are one of the best at running the rpo with Tua. They deserve a whole section on it. They really do a nice job with it.

The route combo: #1 on the slant. #2 on the wheel/swing and #3 coming across to the flat. The cb hangs on the slant which opens the swing for a 25 yard gain

Nice job and the wheel is wide open by #2

The Dolphins make it look like zone read but have #2 run the wheel which makes it highly effective.

Lastly, here is a 12 personnel slice play without the read the Dolphins run. The 12 personnel but block it with motion.

They run fast motion with the H across and then have the other h lead up inside for the LB. Nice design as they get 2 excellent double teams and don’t have to block the front side OLB.

I hope you enjoyed this article and some zone slice variations and run options out of 12 personnel.