Diamond Wide Zone Lead

I don’t know if there is a better coaching duo in the Country for Wide Zone than Scott Satterfield and Dwayne Ledford. They were able to transform Louisville’s offense in 2019 and Wide Zone was a staple play. Unlike most Stretch, Outside Zone or Wide Zone Schemes — you will consistently see Louisville run to the two-man surface (away from the TE). But, they are still able to create additional gaps with H-Backs and Fullbacks.

• Diamond Formation

• Wide Zone to the Field

• LT is responsible for the C-Gap (Work to the 5 Technique, but keep moving to the Overhang Defender if the DE spikes to the B-Gap)

• H-Back is responsible for the Frontside B-Gap

• LG & C Work Double to Climb from the 2i Nose Up to the Sam LB

• Backside Cutoff

• Fullback Protects vs. Hard Bend by the 9 Technique

The Left Tackle and H-Back are working together to handle C & B-Gaps. The H-Back reads the block of the LT, the RB will read the path of the H-Back. Great play to run to an open B-Gap!

Split Zone Insert Iso

Power Spread Offenses are designed around 11 Personnel Y-Off (H-Back) Sets that give access to a complex run game while forcing the defense to defend from sideline to sideline. Many Power Spread schemes have utilized Split Zone and Insert Iso to add an extra gap on run plays. Most Split Zone plays are designed for the Offensive Line to leave an edge player unblocked for the H-Back to cut off the C-Gap Defender, but back in 2017 Oklahoma State made the H-Back responsible for the B-Gap Defender. It’s a great way to create an unexpected extra gap post-snap.

• Backside Tackle Locks on the DE (C-Gap)

• Split Zone with the H-Back Responsible for the B-Gap Defender

  • H-Back going to the Shaded Nose - Iso Up to the LB

  • H-Back going away from the Shaded Nose - Wham the 3 Technique

• RB takes the Wide Zone Track, but Winds Back Off the H-Back

The goal is to create an extra gap in an unexpected way. Shifting the Gap Responsibility of the H-Back from C-Gap (True Split Zone) to the B-Gap (Insert Iso) can disrupt the flow of the Linebackers.

TE/Wing Wide Zone Windback

TE/Wing has become an increasingly popular alignment from Spread Offenses because of the challenges a 4-Man Surface creates for defenses (particularly Odd Front). From Gun Pistol Wide Zone is a staple play that orients the Offensive Coordinator’s design. Off Wide Zone action, you can build a robust Play Action and Boot Series. Another way to protect Wide Zone from being overplayed by the defense is to run Zone Windback.

• RB Steps Strong to the TE/Wing Side, but Reads the H-Back to the Backside C-Gap

• H-Back runs the Split Zone Track to Kickout or Log the DE (depending on depth of DE)

Backside penetration can cause problems for Wide Zone. Ideally the H-Back is hunting for the Backside DE, but the most important thing is cutting off backside penetration. If that penetration occurs, the H-Back creates a Wide Zone Wham effect and the RB presses vertical.