The Zone Read
The Zone Read is the play that propelled the modern shotgun spread to popularity. Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is widely credited with the invention of this play while at Glenville State in 1991, when Glenville State quarterback bobbled a shotgun snap on a called hand-off, then kept the ball off back-side tackle, running in a gab vacated by a defensive end – for more about the creation of the zone read, I suggest this article – The Evolution of a Broken Play.
The play is based on a basic option principle, and comes from a need to run the ball in between the tackles when seemingly outnumbered. Imagine an offense in a 4 receiver 2×2 set with one back, and the defense aligned with 1 defender opposite each receiver and 1 safety over the top, leaving 6 men in the box. If an offense wants to run a basic hand-off play, they must block 6 defenders with 5 blockers….not possible.
The Zone Read is a way to deal with that extra or 6th defender – in this case, it is the backside defensive end (If we want to hand off to the RB going right, the unblocked man is the DE on our left). The lineman all block zone principles – they step at a 45 degree angle to their right and follow that path. The QB receives the snap, brings the ball to the RB, and looks at the DE. If the DE stays where he is, or runs up the field to play outside contain, the QB hands off to the RB and has essentially “blocked” him (accounted for him so that he cannot make the play). If the DE comes down the line and attempts to stop the RB from running on his path, the QB pulls the ball and runs it in the area vacated by the DE. (I don’t have the resources right now, but I will soon post some videos or images to help get this point across).
This play has several advantages. Firstly, it allows the offense to even the score in the box – run the ball against 6 defenders with 5 blockers. Also, it is a form of option football; the offense is reacting to the actions of the defenders, and therefore has an advantage by definition. Moreover, it is a relatively simple play. The mesh between RB and QB does require practice and the QB must become very proficient at making the read, but on the whole the zone read is simpler and has much less room for error and turnovers than conventional pitch-oriented options. Finally, if you are blessed with a good athlete at the QB position (like the QB’s that have flourished in this offense: Pat White, Dennis Dixon, Tim Tebow, and Vince Young to name a few), this is a good way to use his athleticism and allow him to both carry the ball in the open field and serve as a decoy to open up the inside running game.
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