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)

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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.

3-3-5 Complex Cover 1

There is a reason the NFL values Edge Pass Rushers. You can create pressure in traditional rush lanes without disrupting the structure of your defense. If you don’t have stud on the edge, you’re forced to generate pressure through movement and blitzes. When you’re facing a QB who can make quick escapes you will need to add in a Spy element.

in 2019, San Diego State operated out of a 3-3-5 which incorporated a ton of movement and blitzes. Below is one of my favorite blitzes I saw them run because it incorporated so many different elements:

  • D-Line Stunt

  • LB Blitz

  • Safety Blitz (Peel)

  • QB Spy

  • Cover 1

  • TE shifts the Defensive Front from Odd to Even (7 Mug, 3 Tech, Tilted Shade, 5)

  • 3 Tech Spikes to the A-Gap

  • Nose Wraps to B-Gap (Continue for Contain)

  • 3 Tech Drops Out of the Stunt to become the QB Spy/Underneath RAT

  • 5 Technique Spikes to B-Gap

  • Mike Blitzes C-Gap (Peel with RB)

  • Will Blitzes A-Gap

  • FS Blitzes C-Gap (Peel with RB)

  • Cover 1 with Jack LB Mug Man on the TE

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After all that movement, only 4 players end up rushing the QB. They are able to play Cover 1 with both a Deep Safety and an Underneath RAT player. I love the idea of dropping the Penetrator out of the TEN Stunt (3 Technique Tackle + Nose). The RAT/Spy Player has to know where the main pressure is coming from in order to understand where the QB will be flushed out of the pocket.