Putting a little zip in your multiple I set.

A little motion will get the defense thinking too much and create mismatches

The Z receiver (flanker or slot) in the Mount Horeb (WI) multiple I set has tended to be a basketball-guard-type athlete with good hands and feet who knows how to seal off a defensive man and find the open space on pass plays.

That has been all to the good, of course. But one thing has been missing - physical strength. This eventually forced us to begin looking for ways to get the Z into mismatches and better blocking angles on the bigger opponents.

After a little experimentation, we found the answer in motion. On the call "Zip," or a foot signal from the QB, or simply after everyone came set for a second, the Z would go into motion inside to a point just outside or even with the tight end.

He could execute this motion fast or slow, depending on the defensive adjustment to it. The motion served to conceal our blocking vs man coverage and our intent to run or pass.

Our chief running play is the sweep. Diag. 1 shows how we can create confusion at defensive end with our "1 Right 28 Zip Sweep." The play is designed to get outside quickly with both guards pulling, as the Z appears to be putting a stalk block on the DE.

The playside G kicks out on the corner, the backside G looks back for an LB, and the FB looks for the middle force or "alley" player.

When the DE starts widening, we will go to our Power play, "I Right 24 Zip Power" [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 2 OMITTED].

The TE now blocks out, sealing the DE and the Z goes inside to the ILB or Strong LB. This usually creates a mismatch for the defense. But with the FB, pulling guard, and Z blocking out ahead, a double team will usually clear the way for the TB.

Note: We have also run the Power with the playside G kicking out the DE or the FB taking the DE.

Once the defense really starts adjusting to the strong side, we will run our "I Right Zip Counter" to the weak side [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 3 OMITTED].

This comes off our Power play action, with the G and T pulling to the weak side. The pulling G kicks out the DE and the pulling T goes through the hole looking for anyone.

The FB helps block the DT by taking a slow sidestep to let the G and T clear. The TB runs his Power route, trying to keep the DE from chasing the pulling linemen.

The QB must get depth to clear the pulling linemen, then make an inside handoff to the Z and continue the Power fake.

We try to create mismatches in the passing game by creating confusion in the man coverage and opening gaps in the zone.

Our best play vs a 2-deep man under is the "I Right Zip 67 Wheel" shown in Diag. 4. In our 5-7 step passing game numbering system, the first number indicates our X route, the second number our Y route, and the last number or word our Z route.

If the corner switches to the TE, our Z will take on a LB, who is already in a bad position.

If the C stays with the Z, it will create a screen for the TE doing his 6 route to the sideline.

If Z recognizes that the defense has switched to a zone, he must find the gap between the LB and CB and the TE must find the gap between the CB and SS. We have run cup and slide protection to keep the backside TE in and get our backs out of the backfield.

Diag. 5 shows our play vs a 3-deep zone ("1 Zip 624"). The TE releases at an angle to get behind the LB and pull him away from the Z, who is running a curl route in the area vacated by the LB.

The QB reads the LB. If the LB stays with the TE, the QB goes to the Z. If the LB stays with the Z, the QB looks for the TE between the FS and LB. If the FS jumps the Y, the QB looks for the X going behind deep.

We also run a bootleg off the Power ("I Zip 24 Boot") as counter to lose the Z in the crowd (Diag. 6). The X now tries to pull the C deep, with the Z coming underneath and the Y finding the space between the CB and the OLB.

With this simple motion, we have created problems for the defense. If they adjust too much, we go inside. If they don't adjust enough, we go outside - and this creates mismatches in the passing game.

Once you get the defense adjusting and thinking too much, you have taken control of the game - and the team with the most control will usually win.