After looking at split zone and outside zone, there is a point in play design where you can combine concepts to create a trick play. A&M combines split zone and outside zone in their Split Zone Reverse concept. Split zone reverse is a counter play to exploit defenses biting hard on zone footwork by the offensive line and following the linemen to the ball.
Play Concept
A&M runs split zone reverse from 12 personnel out of a bunch formation. The bunch is aligned to the boundary with a TE on the line and a TE in a wing position with the boundary receiver aligned to the outside of the bunch.
Offensive line zone blocks to the strongside. TE pushes vertical and blocks CB. H-back flows across formation and slice blocks first person to show weakside. RT blocks SDE. RG reach blocks 3-tech. C reaches for 3-tech. LG reaches weak 1-tech. LT reach blocks with LG, ensures he has 1-tech, and looks second level. Weak edge is left unblocked for TE’s slice block. RB meshes with QB and takes handoff strongside. Bunch receiver fakes route vertical, then reverses to weakside. RB flips ball to Bunch receiver. Bunch receiver takes ball and runs weakside inside the slice block of the H-back. The zone blocks strongside and RB motion strongside fools the defense into flowing strongside while the Bunch receiver reverses the ball weakside.
Executing Split Zone Reverse
A&M is in 12 personnel with a bunch formation to the boundary. TE Jalen Wydermyer is on the line, H-back Max Wright is the left wing, and Yulkeith Brown is the bunch receiver. Jalen Preston is the field receiver. Zach Calzada is in shotgun with Isaiah Spiller aligned to his left.
At the snap, Wydermyer comes off the line and blocks the CB. Wright runs weakside in slice motion. RT Reuben Fatheree blocks the SDE. RG Layden Robinson reaches the 3-tech. C Bryce Foster also reaches the 3-tech to allow Robinson to go second level and block the SLB. LG Kenyon Green reaches the 1-tech and seals him strongside. LT Jahmir Johnson goes second level to seal the MLB inside. Wright’s slice motion and weak edge and weak apex crashing inside to fill backside against Spiller’s strongside run allows Wright to seal them inside. Yulkeith Brown fakes vertical and then runs weakside behind Spiller in reverse motion. Spiller takes handoff strongside and flips ball to Brown.
Brown races weakside and runs between blocks of Preston and Wright. Brown races down the sideline for a 45 yard gain and a first down.
Split Zone Reverse End Zone View
In the end zone view, you can see the zone footwork of the linemen and the defense flowing strongside before they’re fooled by the reverse.
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