Lincoln Riley Part 2 Variations in the Zone Read Game

In 2018, The Sooners rushed for 247 yards per game and a 6.6 yards per carry. They did it with some different concepts, which includes some various zone read concepts.

The Sooners have different variations of their zone read game and often have different options where they read different defenders. In all honesty, they did more with it in 2018 and 2019 with Murray and Hurts than the do with Rattner but it was very fun and tough to defend during those years. Trying to teach your DT how to play the zone read is no easy task and practicing against the different variations isn't easy, especially with their play action game.

Here are some of the variations:

They run traditional zone read with some slice components

DT Zone Read

2nd Level LB Zone Read

Same Side DE/LB Zone Read

Wrap run read game

They mix up the people they are going to read in the run game and with Hurts and Murray, were extremely hard to defend in 2018 and 2019.

Traditional Zone Read with Slice to 2nd level

Zone Read Slice

Oklahoma runs Zone Read Slice with the Back coming across. They get a nice gap as the OLB has to play the Jet and get a good lateral movement up front. Nice design for a 15 yard gain. Looks like H is trying to get to the 2nd level and take the LB if the QB reads pull. Either way, look at the running lane.

DT Zone Read

Vs Houston Cougars in 2019.

The Cougars played a 2i and shade look for a good portion of the game. The Sooners still run the zone read off the shade. The shade read defender attacks Hurts and Hurts gives it for a nice 50 yard gain. A Gap is vacated on the read and a nice run by the RB.

Oklahoma vs Baylor Defense

Here's another example:

30 yard TD Vs FAU. DT takes the QB and look at the running lane it creates.

2nd Level Zone Read

They have different zone read options but here is one they run against a stack look. The Tackle blocks solid and the overhang LB is read. You see this often when they get a 4i.

In this example they are reading the 2nd level LB. They block the 1st level but decide to read the stack OLB in the run game.

Same Side 2nd Level Read with G Wrap

The Dakota defense plays a 4i. Oklahoma runs an outside zone variation with the Guard wrapping for the LB. It is successful as the LB takes the QB and gives the QB a give read.