One of the most frequently asked questions flag football coaches ask is how to attack a zone defense. In fact, it was that very question that led me to start selling my Headache Offense and Unbeatable Defense online over a decade ago. I decided to come up with a set of plays just for this article to show how easy it really is to beat a zone defense.
Here is an example of how you can move the ball vs. a 2-3-2 zone in a 7-man lockdown league. All three plays attack the “bubble” below the Safety and between the Linebacker and Cornerback. This is a very vulnerable part of zone defense.
play #1
[Link to play diagrams found at bottom of article]
LSE – Post-corner route with the initial break at about 7 meters deep. Make sure the post portion of the route points to the opposite sideline at a depth of approximately 20 to 25 yards. This is important, as you’ll see in the next move.
CSR – Route of the post with the break at about 5-7 meters deep.
rwo – Square en route at about 5 meters deep. The ball will be thrown into the “bubble” area.
Center – After an initial block, execute a 5-yard hook path above the LT.
Quarterback – The readings are simple.
1) Look at the “bubble” first and if it’s open, move on to the RWO who runs into it.
2) If the LB threatens the bubble, pass to the center. If the Safety threatens the bubble, move to the RSE position in the shaded area of the diagram. Pass him a bullet calmly.
3) If the FS moves to help cover the RSE, just move to the back corner of the LSE.
Now, what happens if the strong side corner follows the RWO, anticipating the route? That brings us to the next play.
play #2
[Link to play diagrams found at bottom of article]
LSE – Exactly like the post-corner of the previous play, but without the second serve. Continue posting across the field until you run out of bounds.
CSR – Execute a post exactly as you did on the previous play, except at about 12-15 yards break off the sideline at a point 2-3 yards below your break.
rwo – Run a square as before, but before reaching the center of the field, turn around and sit in the “bubble”.
Center – Same as the previous move.
Quarterback – Run this play only when looking at the corner following the RWO in the infield.
1) Read the RWO first and make sure the Corner follows it. If he doesn’t, move on to the RWO in the “bubble”. If you do, read SS.
2) If the Safety is not in a position to defend the RSE’s outside opening, pass to him. Since the Corner vacated the outer zone, it should be open.
3) If the Safety is in close coverage with the RSE on your break, switch to the LSE downfield for a big profit! Make sure you hit it easy.
If the LI is inside the “bubble”, move to the Center. If the cornerback moves back into his zone before going to the RSE, go to the RWO in the “bubble.”
play #3
[Link to play diagrams found at bottom of article]
Here is another way to attack that same “bubble”.
LSE – Execute either a streak or a post similar to the one from the previous play.
CSR – Execute a hook for 5-7 yards.
rwo – Execute a 5-yard hook, wrap it up by squaring your shoulders and making eye contact with the QB. Then quickly break up the field in a streak.
Center – Same as the previous move.
Quarterback –
1) Start by reading the RWO and (assuming it’s not open) feigning the hook to it.
2) Then read SS. If you are not in a position to plug the “bubble”, move on to the CSR. If the SS is in a position to cover you, read the RWO hatching. The security read should be very fast as you don’t have a lot of time to go on the hook and go.
Of course, if the LB is in the “bubble” it passes to the Center. And if both RSE and RWO are covered, move on to LSE downfield.
As with any game, you need to practice on every possible read the QB can make so that the reads become second nature. That way you don’t have to “think”, you just have to “react”. If you just put a QB under center without detailed reads, you’re bound to miss. You can’t expect a quarterback to be able to look at 4 or 5 different receivers and find the open guy (unless, of course, he has a Joe Montana on his team). It’s like telling a checkers player to “get the king” in a game of chess!
But, if you teach your quarterback exactly what to read and how to react, then you don’t have to have a brilliant caller, you just need to have one who is willing to practice. Of course, that means you can’t have too many plays or you won’t be able to execute them correctly. That’s why you should pick the most powerful plays that can be effective when run over and over vs. the same team
Beating a zone defense is about strategy, not athletics. It’s all about outthinking your opponent. Start drawing zone defenses on pieces of paper and try to find the weaknesses in them and brainstorm how to exploit them. If you start using your brain, you can easily dismantle any defense zone you face!
[Play diagrams can be viewed HERE]
