Split zone is a play that is actually known by another name, Slice, because of its creator. When Chris Ault invented the Pistol offense at Nevada-Reno in 2004, he named his inside zone play Slice. The line blocked zone, the TE or H-back came backside and blocked the unblocked defensive end, that was slice. Even today, when teams run split zone, many of them refer to the H-back or TE coming across the formation to block the EMLOS as a ‘slice block’.
Play Concept
Split zone is a simple play concept. Offensive line all zone blocks one way, leaving EMLOS unblocked, and a player (usually a TE/H-back) comes across the formation and kicks out unblocked defender. QB hands off to RB, RB reads zone blocks and runs the ball.
The diagram is split zone from 11 personnel with the TE aligned to the boundary. Outside receivers go vertical. Field slot runs a two yard smoke route. LT climbs to the playside linebacker. LG combos with center and blocks 1-tech. Center ace blocks with LG then climbs to MLB. RG has 3-tech. RT fan blocks strongside DE. RB takes handoff from QB, takes three read steps, then Bang/Bounce/Bend.
Executing Split Zone
A&M is in 11 personnel with Demond Demas to the field, Ainias Smith in the slot, aligned Jalen Wydermyer on the right wing. Jalen Preston is the boundary receiver. Zach Calzada is in the backfield with RB Devon Achane aligned to his left. Missouri is aligned in a 4-2-5 defense with a deep safety playing Cover 1. So deep he isn’t even on the screen. Missouri is playing press coverage on the receivers outside.
At the snap, Demas tries to go vertical but struggles to get off press man. Smith runs a smoke route. LT Jahmir Johnson goes second level and blocks the playside LB. LG Kenyon Green easily drives back the 3-tech DT. C Bryce Foster briefly combos with RG Layden Robinson then goes second level for the backside LB. RT Reuben Fatheree blocks out the backside DE. Wydermyer comes across the formation and slices the weakside DE.
Achane takes the handoff, takes his three reads steps, sees the nickel coming to the backside B-gap (no Bang) and decides to bend it backside. The nickel is shielded by Foster when he tries to cut backside. Wydermyer stacks both the weak DE and the playside LB with his slice block. Johnson blocks the backside linebacker. Between Wydermyer and Johnson, there is a tunnel and Achane flies right through. Play result is a 20 yard gain and a first down.