Red Zone Running Concepts
Inside the 20, the run game has to handle a stacked box. Power, counter, QB-power and the RPO tags that still work.
The red zone run game is fighting against a 9-man box. The defense has fewer yards to cover and can commit safeties downhill without giving up the deep ball.
Power is still king inside the 10. A pulling guard, a kick-out block, and a pile of bodies — yards come in inches but they come. Counter is the same idea with the back going opposite the pull, used as a change-up when the defense over-commits to power.
The RPO glance still works in the red zone, but the window is half the size. The QB's read is the same; the throw is into a 2-yard window between the apex and the safety. Most QBs check the run more often in the red zone for that reason.
QB power is the modern goal-line cheat code. With the QB carrying the ball, the defense has to add a fitter (the unblocked man on a regular run is the QB; if the QB is the runner, the math changes). Plus a 6-foot QB has natural pile-pushing leverage that an RB doesn't.
The tush push is the latest evolution — a QB sneak with the back pushing from behind. It's a near-guaranteed yard and the defense can't legally stop it the way it's currently officiated.
Vaults that go deep on red zone running concepts
Vaults whose cuts are tagged with: red-zone, power, QB-power, tush-push.
Red Zone Money
Everything that's been getting into the end zone in 2024.
HS Spread Offense Install
From scratch — HS-pace spread RPO offense in 6 weeks of summer install.
Goal Line Specialists
5-and-in plays from the best red-zone offenses in football.