2025 Wide Zone Research and Development – Case 2: The Three-Surface Box Insert Play

“When we transitioned from a gap scheme team to zone scheme we were concerned if we can rip through the backfield and smash a 9-technique with these Y-leads. When we tinkered with it in the spring we had a ton of success against our defense, so we knew we were on to something.”
- Jeff Nady, offensive line coach, University of South Dakota

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Researcher/Co-Founder
X&O Labs
@MikeKKuchar

Having played in the same system as Colin Kaepernick at the University of Nevada, Jeff Nady knows a mobile quarterback when he sees one. That was not the case this season in Vermillion, where 6-5 junior Aidan Bouman was already among South Dakota’s all-time passers in passing yards (6,402) passing completions (481) passing touchdowns (42), and passing attempts (724). So, he and offensive coordinator Josh Davis had to find other ways to equate hats in the run game that didn’t include designed quarterback runs. They may not have had a run-option at quarterback, but they did have an All-American tight end in 6-4 JJ Galbreath who was athletic enough to block in space and manhandle defenders at the second level.

After hours of studying the San Fransisco 49er film of how Kyle Shanahan uses George Kittle in these Y-lead build-ins to wide zone, Coach Nady and the offensive staff made a complete reformation from a gap run team into a zone run team.  “Once we made the decision to to run outside zone and broke down the Niners we found a match with our tight end,” Coach Nady said. “Running these Y-lead build-ins takes reps and it takes discipline. And once we decided to do it, we went all in.”

The South Dakota Staff termed it “box insert.” The foundation of the play is built out of 12 personnel- the foundational personnel grouping in the Coyote’s offense- where one tight end is used at the point of attack and the other is the motion element who assists in combination blocks to the play side. It became an easy way to create multiple double teams play side and was adaptable against many fronts.

“When transitioned from a gap scheme team to zone scheme we were concerned on whether or not we can we rip through the backfield and smash a 9-technique,” he said. “When we tinkered with it in the spring we had a ton of success against our defense, so we knew we were on to something.” This became the genesis of the box insert or Y-lead variation.  Last month, we researched and produced our report on how the University of William and Mary built these Y-lead concepts under the direction of offensive line coach Mario Acittelli. But the distinction lies in how Coach Nady and the offensive staff taught the play. While the William and Mary staff built these mainly to the two-man surface, South Dakota preferred them to the three-man surface, which required a good amount of teaching because of the high tendency of movement and the presence of what could be a dominant 3-technique defender.

We are going to uncover how the South Dakota staff built these box inserts into the three-man surface and how it taught its front to handle movement to the play side.

Visual Evidence:

The tutorial below will give you a better understanding of the Y-lead variant in the wide zone run concept.

>>Editor's Note: In this exclusive report, Mike Kuchar pulls back the curtain on South Dakota's record-breaking run scheme. You'll get detailed diagrams of their most explosive play concepts, frame-by-frame video breakdowns of how they're creating 6+ yards per carry, and Mike's analysis of which programs are already adapting these concepts for 2025. Plus, you’ll see game film from South Dakota, William & Mary, and top FBS programs implementing these same concepts. Login below to expand this page to see the full report and video.