Coach Griff’s Film Room: Indiana’s Goal-Line Zone Read vs Northwestern
Indiana is at Northwestern’s 1-yard line in an open set, running inside zone. This Indiana football Zone Read breakdown focuses on Josh Hoover’s decision after the mesh and the opportunity available to Nick Marsh on the perimeter.
What Northwestern Is Doing
Before looking at Hoover, look at the defense. Northwestern brings what I call a “saw blitz”: double edge blitzers attacking from both sides while the defensive front squeezes and pinches the interior gaps.
That creates an aggressive, effectively man-for-man structure. The pressure crowds the inside-zone action, but the defense’s commitment to the backfield can also leave Indiana an opportunity outside.
The Concept and Hoover’s Read
Hoover executes the mesh with the tailback and pulls the football. Once he pulls it, shift your attention to Nick Marsh. Marsh is available as a throw/read option on the perimeter.
The defender’s eyes are clearly in the backfield, and Indiana is getting a useful block outside. I would like Hoover to get the ball to Marsh here and take that potential one-on-one opportunity. That gives Marsh a chance to finish the play, although a touchdown is not guaranteed.
Hoover instead elects to keep the football and is stopped just short. He nearly gets in, but the difference between nearly scoring and finishing the drive matters at the 1-yard line.
What to Watch
Watch the defensive front and both edges first, then follow Hoover through the mesh. After the pull, look outside at the defender’s eyes, the block and Marsh’s space. Those details explain why the throw is the opportunity I like on this play.
Coach Griff’s Take
This is why I don’t want viewers simply following the football when we go into the Film Room. Use this five-point checklist:
- Watch Northwestern’s front squeeze and pinch the interior gaps.
- Identify the double edge blitzers in what I call the saw blitz.
- Follow Hoover through the mesh and the pull.
- Shift outside to the defender’s eyes in the backfield and Indiana’s perimeter block.
- Find Marsh as the throw/read option, then compare that one-on-one opportunity with Hoover’s keep and the stop just short.
I like the creativity of this concept. On this particular snap, I would take the opportunity to throw it to Marsh. My larger coaching preference is for Indiana to incorporate more power-run answers inside the five.
That means down blocks to secure the inside, a puller working to the linebacker, and a lead blocker attacking the edge. Those are the blocking relationships I would like to see Indiana use more often in this tight area of the field.
The goal is better touchdown efficiency inside the five. Indiana cannot be satisfied with settling for field goals or being stopped at the 1. The design gives the offense options; the read and execution have to turn those chances into touchdowns.
