There is a definitive statement in the wiki that says, "don't use zone against the run". In my opinion it should say, "don't use zone against an inside run".
When defending the QB sweep or HB pitch, you are asking your LB to beat the ball carrier to the edge. Often you are running them into blocking. If your LB's get caught up on blocks and the WR holds his block, you are setting up your SS or FS to get juked or ran over. At this point you are making it a footrace for the other safety in a cover 2. If you ran a cover 1 shell, and your SS got bunched up with the LBs, you might just hit next play to avoid watching the RB run 80 yards for a td.
I am not saying anything should be a hundred percent, but if you have a good sense there will be an outside run, zone coverage puts the OLB in a much better position to make a play on the ball carrier. Even if they only force them to the run laterally longer, they at least give the over the top help more time to get into position. Your MLB or ILB will probably find there way into the deep flat as well. Also your CBs aren't going to engage the WR, meaning they will be less likely to get tied up in a block at the line. This forces the WR to run after them to secure a block, and by that point the CB may already be moving to avoid the block.
The drawback is of course you give up on tackling anyone behind the line, but you provide a safety net inside of a 10 yard range. You force a ball carrier to delay longer before turning up field. The goal to covering the outside run is to have as many defenders with a solid shot at the ball carrier as possible. Someone running across the field isn't going to get as clean of a shot, as someone who is waiting for the ball carrier.
When defending the QB sweep or HB pitch, you are asking your LB to beat the ball carrier to the edge. Often you are running them into blocking. If your LB's get caught up on blocks and the WR holds his block, you are setting up your SS or FS to get juked or ran over. At this point you are making it a footrace for the other safety in a cover 2. If you ran a cover 1 shell, and your SS got bunched up with the LBs, you might just hit next play to avoid watching the RB run 80 yards for a td.
I am not saying anything should be a hundred percent, but if you have a good sense there will be an outside run, zone coverage puts the OLB in a much better position to make a play on the ball carrier. Even if they only force them to the run laterally longer, they at least give the over the top help more time to get into position. Your MLB or ILB will probably find there way into the deep flat as well. Also your CBs aren't going to engage the WR, meaning they will be less likely to get tied up in a block at the line. This forces the WR to run after them to secure a block, and by that point the CB may already be moving to avoid the block.
The drawback is of course you give up on tackling anyone behind the line, but you provide a safety net inside of a 10 yard range. You force a ball carrier to delay longer before turning up field. The goal to covering the outside run is to have as many defenders with a solid shot at the ball carrier as possible. Someone running across the field isn't going to get as clean of a shot, as someone who is waiting for the ball carrier.
