We have already looked at the Iso play and Split Zone, today we’re taking a look at a play that combines the two concepts in Split Zone Insert Iso. Split zone is usually designed for the RB to cut off the C-gap defender who is blocked by the TE/H-back coming across in slice motion. Split zone insert iso moves the point of attack inside one gap, making the H-back responsible for the B-gap defender. Basically, split zone insert iso is the split zone form of midzone.
Play Concept
Split zone insert iso is power running from a spread alignment, so 11 personnel is the normal personnel group. Two or three wide receivers spread wide take defenders out of the tackle box.
When Texas ran split zone insert iso against Arkansas last season, Texas was in 11 personnel with two receivers to the boundary and one to the field. TE is aligned to the field and RB is to the QB’s right. The boundary slot motions pre-snap to the tackle where the ball is snapped. The motion is intended to draw the weakside apex across the formation, opening the backside running lane. If the defense rotates to motion, it puts the SLB outside the box and lightens the defensive interior.
Outside receivers push vertical and stalk block. The LT zones out the SDE. LG helps LT and then climbs to look for opposing color. Center blocks 1-tech. RG combos with center. RG climbs off combo to block backside LB. RT fan blocks WDE. TE slice motions across formation and cuts into hole created by RG and RT. TE iso blocks playside LB. RB takes handoff and follows TE into B-gap. RB cuts off TE’s iso block and is at third level of defense.
Executing Split Zone Insert Iso
Texas is facing a 1st and 10 at the Arkansas 49 in the first quarter of their game. Arkansas is in a 3-2-6 or 33 Odd Stack alignment. Arkansas has no apex defender to the field which makes running left a temptation. Texas tries to cross them up by running at numbers.
Marcus Washington is aligned wide to the field. Jordan Whittington is the boundary slot. Whittington goes in pre-snap motion. TE Cade Brewer is aligned off LT Christian Jones to the field. QB Hudson Card is in shotgun. RB Bijan Robinson is aligned to Card’s right. The ball is snapped when Whittington’s motion hits the RT. At the snap, Jones fan blocks the SDE. LG Denzel Okafor checks on Jones, wanders to second level, and doesn’t block anyone. Center Jake Majors picks up the 1-tech strongside slant and take him where he wants to go. The slant takes him away from the play and Majors is too happy to oblige. RG Junior Angilau checks Majors for help, then peels back to block the MLB. RT Derek Kerstetter down blocks the WDE on his strongside slant.
Arkansas is so convinced Texas would run strongside away from numbers they slanted their DL to fill those gaps. The strongside slants are taking them away from the play. TE Brewer slices backside but attempts to block the WDE slanting strongside. Play design calls for Brewer to block off the inside hip of the RT which is the weakside B gap. The RT and WDE are now in the strongside A gap. Brewer is blocking three gaps over from his assignment. This is a low football IQ move by Brewer. Brewer’s assignment is #27 Hayden Henry. Henry is unblocked. Brewer screwed up.
Make A Football Play
Robinson takes the handoff and runs upfield. Henry is waiting, but Robinson cuts up inside Angilau’s block on the MLB. Henry is caught in the traffic. Robinson is in a tunnel created by Angilau and Marcus Washington’s block. Razorback strong safety Simeon Blair comes downfield to make the tackle for a three yard gain but fails to wrap up. Robinson continues outside. Whittington makes a key block on Jalen Catalon sealing him inside. Robinson hits the sideline. Robinson is shoved out of bounds another ten yards downfield. Result of the play is a 20 yard gain and a first down. Texas made multiple mistakes on this play and Arkansas made multiple mistakes on this play. Bijan Robinson is a football player who made a football play.
The 20 yard gain is Robinson’s long for the day. Arkansas held Robinson to 19 rushes for 69 yards in the game.
