Cutup Friday: 2023 Dolphins OZ Strong Lead "Edge"

Cutup Friday a little late this week…

One of my biggest takeaways from studying the 2023 Dolphins is how well they adapted their outside zone schemes each week. Adjusting for different personnel/fronts/secondary rotations to give their running backs space to operate. Here are two examples that I included in Game Planning with the 2023 Miami Dolphins of their “Edge” tag. The end of this article also includes an 8 minute complete season cutup of the concept.

At 3Q 5:07 in week 2, The Dolphins call a version of their Outside Zone Strong Lead concept. I tag this variation as “Edge”, asking the fullback to block the EMOL.

The added tweak of this version is tucking Tyreek Hill inside the flexed out tight end. This further widens the edge player. The intent of this play, with this reaction, is to hit C-gap on the front side. The critical block then comes from the PST 1 on 1 with the 4-technique.

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In this game, the Dolphins game planned their “Edge” variation of Outside Zone Strong – Lead. Against the Bills front, this ended up with the PST and TE combo-ing the defensive end. The fullback/U-tight end is asked to run the edge and block the first off-ball threat.

3Q 13:30 of week 3.

Both times the Dolphins ran this, the Sam was the first off-ball defender to show. The PSWR is asked to block secondary support in this concept. 

Each week, Miami game plans a variation of Outside Zone Strong-Lead to try and get the ball on the edge.

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Cutup Library

The following video shows 8 minutes of the “Edge” tag on outside zone strong - lead.