The Zone Read is Alive and Well

A look at the TE Arc off of zone runs.

The quarterback zone read is alive and well.

Nobody runs the play better than the Baltimore Ravens with quarterback Lamar Jackson. This is surprising because you’d think that every defense playing him would do everything in their power not to give him a keep read.

The play that Ravens go to time and time again is a variation with the tight end arcing to block any overhang outside the defensive end. It’s a simple play that creates a numbers advantage for the offense just about every time.

This article will highlight two plays of the exact same variation — the zone read with the tight end arc preceded by a jet motion from the slot receiver.

The focus will be on figuring out why the play works so well by looking at the effect of the jet motion and the backside combo to the zone action by the offensive line. The two different defensive structures will highlight how each of those two factors contribute to the success of each play.

Against Under - MOFC Man

The motion serves multiple purposes and the full effect will only be seen on the next example of this play. Here, against man coverage, the motion displaces the defender over the slot from one side of the formation to the other. However, if they’d lined up the receiver to the other side from the get-go, you’d have to imagine he’d be out of the picture without need of a motion since the defense is in man. The jet motion also probably holds the linebackers’ and the free safety’s eyes just a tad.

The left tackle and left guard’s combo up to the backside inside linebacker is sufficient in keeping that linebacker from making a play. Because of the jet motion, there is no real edge to the defense beyond the first level (the defensive end who was the read). This allows the backside combo’s efforts to be enough to make the play work though the linebacker crossed the face of the left tackle.

The fact there was no force defender gave the offense a numbers advantage allowing the tight end to pick up that inside linebacker who crossed the face of the left tackle. If there had been another defender over there then the backside linebacker would’ve been unblocked.

So the defense is left minus one in the numbers advantage save the free safety coming from the heavens.

Against Over - MOFC Zone

Against zone, the jet motion doesn’t displace the force defender to the side of the keep. The offense still has the numbers advantage if the quarterback is to pull, however this extra defender highlights the importance of the backside combo.

This backside combo benefits from the defense’s over front. Because the backside combo only has a shade, the right tackle can simply help to make sure there isn’t a stunt and then get up to the linebacker. The linebacker is still able to get off the block, though it’s a tad later than last time and his spin out of it causes him to be too late to contribute to the tackle.

The other effect in this play against zone coverage is that the overhang defender isn’t displaced, forcing the tight end to block him instead of the backside inside linebacker. So all the better that this play was against an over and the backside combo had an easier time than last time.

These two plays demonstrate the importance into the tiny details that make simple plays work. Ultimately, however, the quarterback running the ball is the biggest factor. He’s the best player on every field he gets on, and the Ravens’ sound quarterback run scheme does everything it can to highlight his strengths.