One of the most popular plays in football today is the zone read. Spread Offensive teams will try to create confusion among the defense by bringing the tailback into a mesh with the quarterback, drawing the attention of the linebackers. But the QB reads the weak-side defensive end as he is in the mesh, and decides whether to keep the ball or give the ball to the tailback.
The first key to stopping the play is understanding what the offense is looking for. A successful football defense needs to get inside the mind of the offensive coordinator and the key offensive players. As the quarterback is reading, he is looking for one of two things. Either the shoulders of the weak-side defensive end turn, in which case the QB is going to keep the ball and try to run around him, or the shoulders of the defensive end stay square. If the shoulders stay square, the quarterback is instructed to give the ball to the RB every time. Once the give happens, the play is just a simple inside zone play. The offense has accounted for the back-side defensive end with the threat of the QB run, rather than using another blocker on him (See Diagram 1).
There are several ways to defend this, but the way that I find most useful and simple to teach involves very little change for our defense. First, always align your 4 man front with the 3-Technique aligned opposite the single back. In our 4-3 over scheme, the defensive end is to treat the down blocks (away from him) as "run-away" and chase down the LOS. In this manner, he can be responsible for taking away and cut-back to the B-Gap. The nose guard is responsible for the weak-side A-Gap. The mike linebacker, upon reading the single running back to the strong-side, immediately plugs the strong A-Gap. All gaps are accounted for in terms of the inside zone.
For the quarterback, the action of the defensive end is a sure "keep!" read. Great for us! We get another shot on the quarterback. The will linebacker is the only player in our system who has a change here. Normally, on flow away from him, he would play for the cutback to B-Gap. But since he understands the system, and knows the weak DE is taking that gap, he will now play his option responsibility (See Diagram 2).
Even in zone read, stopping the option is all about assignment football. The will linebacker will sprint, immediately to the quarterback and strike a blow. We want him to take advantage of the offensive disguise by delivering a blow to the other team's leader at every opportunity, whether he gives or keeps.
If you fear the offense may use play-action to take advantage of your will's aggressiveness, there is a way to combat this and, again, use it to your advantage. We will use a fire zone blitz that we call WAX (Will/End X, See Diagram 3).
If the QB reads the Will coming, and wants to throw hot to the seemingly open #2 receiver, he will be met with a surprise. On the snap, the end cuts into B-Gap, and the will brings outside pressure. The free safety buzzes down immediately over top of the #2 receiver on a collision course. A quick glance inside and the free safety may find that quick hitch or slant right in his sights for a 6-point turnaround.
Be creative in your defense of the Zone Read play, and be prepared for adjustments by the offense. A successful football defense will find creative solutions within the framework of their own system, in order not to confuse players and slow down reaction times and aggressiveness.
About the Author
Coach Daniel has been the Defensive Coordinator at Prince George High School for the past two seasons. He has been at the school for the past 6 seasons, and previously spent one year at Smithfield High School in Smithfield, Virginia.