All indications are that Devon Achane will be RB1 for Texas A&M in 2022. Achane is an All-American in track and possesses world-class speed. The question for Achane is if he possesses the tackle-breaking ability of former backfield mate Isaiah Spiller. Achane has speed and vision, if he can add power to his game, he’ll be an all-conference and All-American back this season. Devon Achane displayed the ability to carry a tackler when he ran inside zone in the third quarter of the 2021 LSU game.
Play Concept
We’ve reviewed the basic concept of inside zone multiple times before, this time there is a slight twist. A&M is running inside zone from 11 personnel and using pre-snap motion by the boundary slot to come across the formation and block the backside LB.
The TE is aligned to the field with the slot receiver and boundary receiver aligned to the right. The pre-snap motion by the slot receiver makes the formation unbalanced to the field. There are no double teams on this play because of the defensive alignment. Both the field and boundary receivers push vertical. TE zone steps inside and seals SDE outside. LT zones right and seals 3-tech outside. LG climbs second level and blocks MLB. Center zone steps right and seals 1-tech outside. RG climbs second level and blocks PSLB. RT kicks out WDE and seals him outside. Slot receiver motions strongside and blocks BSLB. RB meshes with QB, takes handoff, flies into the tunnel created by blocks of the C and LG.
Achane Executing Inside Zone vs LSU
Jalen Preston is the field receiver and Moose Muhammad III is the boundary receiver. Jaylen Wydermyer is aligned off the left tackle and Ainias Smith is the boundary slot. Devon Achane is aligned to the left of Zach Calzada in the shotgun.
At the snap, Muhammad and Preston push vertical and stalk block. Wydermyer steps right and gets inside the SDE, sealing him outside. LT Jahmir Johnson zones inside and quickly gets leverage on the 3-tech, sealing him outside. LG Kenyon Green and blocks the MLB. C Bryce Foster snaps the ball and seals the 1-tech outside. RG Layden Robinson climbs second level and knocks the PSLB outside 3 yards away from the play. RT Reuben Fatheree kicks out the WDE and keeps him outside. Achane meshes with Calzada and sees the tunnel created by the blocks of Johnson, Green, and Foster. Achane cuts into the tunnel and flies downfield.
Safety Camron Lewis tries to grab Achane after 11 yards, then tries to jump on his back. Achane carries Lewis an additional five yards before going out of bounds. Result of the play is a 21 yard gain and a first down.
End Zone View
The end zone view shows the zone footwork of the offensive linemen and the appearance of the tunnel before Achane makes his cut into traffic.
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