Step 1

In a horizontal stack, it is important to read your defense when initiating cuts. In this example all of the defenders are taking away the overs (deep cuts) at the expense of giving up the unders.

Step 2

More realistically, defenders will stagger themselves or form a "bracket" where one defender takes away the other, while the other defender helps out over the top.

Step 3

Typical cuts would go something like this...

Step 4

Notice that when the cutters make their second set of cuts, the defenders do not follow the cutters

Step 5

but rather, the defenders switch to the cutters entering their space.

Step 6

There is no need for the defenders to communicate this switch if they communicated ahead of time that they will be bracketing.

Step 7

Again, the defenders fronting the cutters, will take away the under from whoever cuts into their space, while the other defenders cover any of the deep looks.

Step 8

So what can the offense do to counter this strategy? Like any "zone" defense where defenders cover a space, rather than a particulr player, the weakness involves flooding that space with multiple offensive targets

Step 9

In this example, the offense floods the unders, forcing 2 defenders to attempt to cover 3 players. As long as the players are sufficiently spread out, the defenders will have to commit to one leaving the other free. Ideally #4 on offense will pull in their defender, so that the #6 defender will have to take either #6 or#7.

Step 10

This next example will show flooding the deep look.

Step 11

Although, a viable option, this requires having a handler with a strong huck, otherwise the deep defenders will have time to catch up to the down field target. Ideally offive #5 draws their defender so that def #7 has to take either #6 or #7.