We have broken down A&M’s inside zone play multiple times, but today we’re going to look at it as a short yardage play. Jimbo Fisher usually calls Iso when the Aggies are in a short yardage situation, but sometimes he leaves 11 personnel on the field and demands they win the yard.
Play Concept
When A&M played Mississippi State in 2021, the Bulldogs employed a different front to deal with short yardage. Normal short yardage defense is heavy on the linemen and fills all the gaps. MSU ran a 7-2-2-7 front, aligning down linemen on both guards and the tight end. Around the DL were linebackers and secondary players to act as apex defenders.
The boundary receiver is aligned on the numbers, the TE is aligned off-line to the field. The field slot is tight to the formation as is the field receiver. Both the field slot and receiver are inside the field hash. The offensive alignment restricts the defense inside which can make them worry about an outside run. Instead of filling interior gaps, MSU put more apex defenders on the edge to protect against an outside run. The result is more gaps to run through inside, which is what you want in a short yardage situation.
Boundary receiver pushes vertical then stalk blocks CB. LT goes second level and blocks the weakside apex. The LG goes two gaps left and blocks the WLB. C blocks two gaps to his left and blocks the weak 2-tech. RG blocks the strong 2-tech head up on him. RT looks for combo on strong 2-tech then goes second level. TE blocks strong 7-tech. Slot receiver blocks outside apex. Field receiver blocks field corner.
RB meshes with QB, takes handoff, and is reading for weak A-gap to strong A-gap because you want to bang it inside.
Executing Inside Zone in a Short Yardage Situation
A&M is in 11 personnel. Jalen Preston is the boundary receiver, Ainias Smith is the field slot, and Demond Demas is the field receiver. Jalen Wydermyer is the TE aligned to the field. Zach Calzada is at QB and Isaiah Spiller is aligned to his right.
Preston pushes vertical at the snap and stalk blocks. LT Jahmir Johnson zones outside and takes the weak apex. LG Kenyon Green zones weakside and blocks the WLB. C Bryce Foster zones down two gaps and takes on the weak 2-tech. RG Layden Robinson blocks the 2-tech head up on him. RT Reuben Fatheree blocks down for the double on the 2-tech then looks second level. Wydermyer catches the SDE on his inside slant and drives him inside back into the PSLB. Great block by Wydermyer. Smith blocks the field safety to seal him outside. Demas blocks the field corner.
Spiller is patient. When Robinson’s block on the strong 2-tech and Fatheree’s second-level block on the PSLB create a tunnel, he slides right through the opening. Spiller is off to the races.
End Zone View
Play result is a 44 yard gain and a first down.