A Complete Guide to Wide Zone

In the NFL you see the wide zone as a major component in most teams run games.They use it along with different plays off it that makes it tough to defend.

Some of the best teams that run wide zone are the 49ers and the Browns. It is a popular scheme at the college level as well. The great thing about the play is you will often see average running backs run for 1,000 yards with the play. It started with Mike Shanahan and Alex Gibbs and is run by so many today. Kyle Shanahan, McVay, and Bill Callahan are just a few having great success with the wide zone scheme.

Some of the best line coaches believe in the wide zone and often would never run a pulling play with it. They dedicated their offense to it and only ran zone schemes.

The best part of the play is that wide zone is a team scheme.  It relies on a horizontal stretch which in turn creates cut back lanes.The scheme relies on angles to win not power. The footwork of the men in the trenches is vital to establishing these angles. It forces safeties into the run fits which will in turn open up the play action, boot and rpo game. Everyone needs to do their job properly on the defensive side because the ball could actually hit behind any of their blocks.  This is certainly true with the backside.

There are several keys to wide zone:

1. Horizontal movement: The offensive line moves laterally at the snap, aiming to reach the outside shoulder of their assigned defenders and get horizontal movement rather than vertical displacement

2. Running back track: The RB’s path is essential. He aims for the outside leg of the tackle, reading the defense as they go. He needs to stay on his track so the QB can get him the ball on his 5th step.

3. Cutback opportunities: As the defense flows to the play side, lanes often open up for the RB to cut back against the grain. You are trying to set up different cutback lanes with the Offensive Line Movement

4. Combo blocks: Linemen work together to control defenders with a horizontal push before getting to the second level. Shoulders are all on the same angle.

5. Complementary Plays: When you run wide zone effectively, you have great play action and boot concepts off it. You can also incorporate some other run plays with it.

Rules

Covered Offensive Lineman

• Knee through the crotch

• Backside hand through the sternum

• aiming point is the play side armpit of defender

The rules for the covered linemen on the outside zone are through the crotch. The backside hand goes to the sternum or chest of the defender. The head should go to the play side defender's armpit. Feel the uncovered lineman. Those are the three things we talk about and are our buzz words. Keep it simple for the offensive lineman

Uncovered Offensive Lineman

• Speed

• Three-step decision, must make a decision on step 3

• He must chase his landmark in the run game

The uncovered lineman's first step is dependent on the play side linebacker. If he is wide. we have to open it up. The first decision that the inside blocker has to make is whether he can take over the block. If the defender is fighting to get to the outside, which prevents the tackle from reaching him, the inside blocker pushes him to the outside and climbs.

If on the third step, the uncovered lineman can take over the block, he pushes the other blocker off the block and takes over the block. If the defender widens off the snap, the blocker goes one, two, and three. and climbs to the linebacker. The thing the uncovered lineman does not want to do is knock the other blocker off the block.

VS Even Fronts

Vs Even fronts, teams like to run wide zone at the 2i. It just creates better angles. But, teams will run it at the 3 technique as well.

1st Example Bills 12P running zone at the 2i.

On the 3rd step you see the Left guard and the RG make the decision to climb to the next level.

Example #2

Bills in heavy 12p with the tackle in the tight end spot.

Film

Uncovered Climb

Here’s a great example of the uncovered lineman not taking over a block and climbing to the next level. The center and tackle who are uncovered, deliver their men to the covered lineman and climb to the 2nd level.

After the 3rd step.