Wide zone
Stretch · Outside zone
The whole line sprints playside and the back stretches the defense horizontally, looking for one vertical cut — frontside, cutback, or bounce. It's a footrace to the edge that punishes slow linebackers.
When it applies
With athletic linemen and a one-cut back; the foundation of the Wide Zone scheme.
+ StrengthsStresses edge defenders and forces safeties to run; bootleg game off the same flow is wide open.
− Trade-offsNegative plays if the edge gets set; requires linemen who can run and backs who cut once and go.
Filed under: Offensive run schemes