NFL Running Concepts Guide 2025: Man, Zone, and Gap Schemes Explained
In the 2025 NFL season, where league-wide rushing averages sit at 4.3 yards per carry amid a balanced offensive resurgence – with teams like the Buffalo Bills leading at 147.2 rushing yards per game, followed closely by the Chicago Bears (142.3) and Detroit Lions (139.8) – the ground game remains a cornerstone of success.
As defences adapt to pass-heavy attacks, coordinators are blending traditional philosophies with modern twists like RPOs to exploit gaps. At For The 3, we've drawn from league data and insights from Pro-Football-Reference to dissect the three core running families: Man, Zone, and Gap.
Each hinges on distinct blocking strategies and running back reads, powering standouts like Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts, league-leading 1,197 yards) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions, 1,123 yards through Week 12). Let's explore how these concepts work, why they succeed, and their role in today's NFL.
The Three Pillars of NFL Running Schemes
NFL run plays fall into three blocking philosophies, each tailored to offensive line strengths, backfield talent, and defensive looks. Man schemes emphasise one-on-one matchups, Zone relies on area blocking and back reads, and Gap creates designed holes with pulls and down blocks. In 2025, hybrids dominate – think the San Francisco 49ers' zone-heavy attack (averaging 4.8 ypc) blending with gap power for Christian McCaffrey's multi-threat role.
Man Schemes: Hat-on-Hat Power and Simplicity
Man concepts assign blockers to specific defenders – a "hat-on-hat" approach that's straightforward and physical, ideal for overpowering fronts. It's the foundation for short-yardage grinds, where success rates hit 65% league-wide on 3rd-and-1, per Sharp Football Analysis.
Concept | Blocking Strategy | Running Back Read | Best For | 2025 Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lead Dive | Fullback leads through A/B gap; linemen double DTs for movement. | Follow fullback tightly. | Short yardage. | Steelers: Najee Harris powers for 4.2 ypc in I-form. |
Straight Lead | Like Lead Dive but no doubles – pure straight-up blocks. | Hit hole at full speed. | Smashmouth tempo. | Bears: Khalil Herbert bursts for quick gains. |
Isolation (ISO) | Combo blocks peel to isolate LB; lead blasts him. | Trust lead, hit assigned gap. | Linebacker mismatches. | Colts: Jonathan Taylor exploits for 1,197 yards. |
Man Dive | Lead Dive sans lead blocker; often single-back. | Direct gap plunge. | Disguise in pass sets. | Jaguars: Travis Etienne Jr. in spread looks. |
Man Toss | Pitch outside; line blocks up, lead seals corner. | Run to edge. | Perimeter attacks. | Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs bounces for explosive runs. |
These thrive against predictable fronts but falter vs. stacked boxes – hence the rise in play-action off man looks (up 10% in 2025).
Zone Schemes: Area Blocking and Reactive Reads
Zone running instructs linemen to block areas, not men – linemen step laterally in unison, driving vertically while uncovered blockers climb to second level. The back reads the flow, deciding to "bang" straight, "bend" cutback, or "bounce" outside. This philosophy powers 45% of NFL runs, yielding 4.5 ypc average, as it exploits overpursuit.
Concept | Blocking Strategy | Running Back Read | Best For | 2025 Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inside Zone | Lateral steps, drive up; uncovered climb to LBs. | Bang/bend/bounce in playside gap. | Interior cuts. | 49ers: Christian McCaffrey averages 5.1 ypc. |
Split Zone | Inside Zone + TE/back crosses to block backside DE. | Cleaner cutback options. | Cutback lanes. | Ravens: Derrick Henry powers through. |
Zone Read | QB reads backside DE; handoff or keep. | DE crash: Keep; stay wide: Handoff. | Mobile QBs. | Bears: Caleb Williams adds dual threat. |
Outside Zone | Stretch to tackle/TE hip or beyond. | Lateral challenge for cutbacks. | Edge stretches. | Bills: James Cook leads teams at 147.2 ypg. |
Jet Zone | Outside Zone + motion receiver handoff/shovel. | Sideline-to-sideline defence. | Speed mismatches. | Dolphins: De'Von Achane's bursts. |
Kyle Shanahan's 49ers epitomise zone mastery, with McCaffrey's vision yielding explosive plays (over 20 yards on 12% of carries).
Gap Concepts: Power Pulls and Designed Holes
Gap (or power) schemes create specific holes via down blocks and pulling linemen – no multi-reads; everything funnels to one lane for downhill smashes. Pulls generate numbers advantages at the point, ideal for physical fronts, with success rates at 52% on 4th-and-1.
Concept | Blocking Strategy | Running Back Read/Key | Best For | 2025 Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Power O | Playside down blocks; backside guard pulls to C gap, kicker on DE. | Follow pulling guard. | Numbers overload. | Eagles: Saquon Barkley in heavy sets. |
Counter | Two pullers (guard/tackle) to playside. | Counter step for timing. | Misdirection. | Ravens: Lamar Jackson options. |
Duo | Double teams hammer DTs; back reads MLB. | MLB flow. | Double-team power. | Colts: Taylor's interior dominance. |
Trap | Leave DT unblocked; pulling guard blindsides him. | Cut behind trap. | Deception. | Packers: Josh Jacobs traps. |
Wham | Trap but from TE/H-back in backfield. | Backfield block. | Inside surprises. | Browns: Nick Chubb whams. |
G-Lead/T-Lead | Guard (G) or tackle (T) pulls edge in heavy sets. | Follow puller around edge. | Heavy formations. | Steelers: Lead pulls for Harris. |
Dart | Power but backside tackle pulls. | Follow tackle. | Variant pressure. | Lions: Gibbs darts. |
Speed Option | QB/RB sprint edge; QB reads outside defender. | Pitch/keep based on read. | Speed threats. | Jaguars: Lawrence options. |
Arthur Smith's Falcons use gap for Bijan Robinson's cuts, averaging 4.4 ypc.
2025 Trends: Hybrids, RPOs, and Data-Driven Runs
Rushing totals climb (league 112 ypg), with hybrids blending schemes – 49ers fuse zone with gap pulls for 4.8 ypc. RPOs up 18%, per SumerSports, allowing QBs like Caleb Williams to read and exploit. Mobile threats (e.g., Jackson) boost option plays.
The run game's revival counters pass defences, creating balance.
