The Cowboys are a very good Inside Zone Slice team. They like to call it from 11 personnel, as well as 12 personnel while using the extra tight end for the front side of the run scheme.
Today I want to focus on a well-designed 11 personnel variation. Start in a 3x1 FIB formation, fake jet and slice to get to a final 3x1 the other way. Same-side handoff too. The base scheme is shown below.
With the formation into the boundary (FIB), the nickel lines up to the field.
With fake jet and slice action going opposite the side of the run, the offensive line is best served to push the point out to the linebacker who is initially out of the box. This is a common way to tag zone runs with fake jet and/or slice action.
With the offensive line pushing the point of the run, the BSWR is brought in to handle the new C-gap player on the back side. Include a “MDM” assignment for the PSWR, and the offense has schemed a way to block all box defenders while using a ton of misdirection.
The Chargers bring the nickel off the edge, and the Cowboys adjust on the fly. the BST recognizes it and collects the defensive end who is slanting into his B-gap. the slicer blocks the nickel who has become the EMOL.
The BSWR needs to stay on his path to get to the Mike (M), as the assignments have executed a three-way switch. I’d like to see a better path and effort from the BSWR to get to the Mike in this clip.
The BST ends up sealing the defensive end and the ball cuts just inside of him for a nice gain.
The Cowboys Manual spends nearly 300 pages breaking down their expansive system. Brian Schottenheimer has built an offense that attacks all areas of the field in the pass game. Klayton Adams utilizes a vast inventory of run schemes to help Dak and the offense set up the big plays.
Mike LaFleur returns to the play calling scene tonight in the hall of fame game. Here are some of my quick breakdowns/cutups from his time as the OC of the Jets in 2021:
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