Zone Offense (2-2-2-1)

Basic Theory:

A traditional 3-2-2 zone offense tends to limit your fast-break opportunities. Because there are 3 cup defenders and 3 handlers, you don't have an upfield numbers advantage. Also, positions are relatively stable, and defenses can know with some certainty who is a threat to go deep, and who isn't.

With the 2-2-2-1 zone offense, you have a 5-to-4 advantage upfield. This gives you additional mismatch opportunities, and a greater potential for fast breaks when you break through the cup. However, the wing position is a relatively complex one, and needs some practice to get right.

Remember: when the disc breaks through the cup, run! You have the advantage; don't dump it back and give the zone a chance to regroup.

Positions/Responsibilities:

2 Handlers

Responsibilities: Swing the disc back and forth, staying relatively wide, looking to distribute the disc to the wings and poppers.
Positioning: Aim to stay about 20 yards away from the other handler, though you can come closer if wind or defense dictates.  In nearly every case, you should be outside the containment of the cup, to get an immediate swing off, even if that means you lose a little more yardage.  If the point cuts off where you're standing, your first choice is to lose some yardage rather than go closer to the other handler.  Eventually, the hole between the point and middle-middle will become wide enough for a throw directly to the wing.
Progression of Looks: 1) To the wing on your side. 2) To the popper on your side. 3) Back to the other handler

2 wings

Responsibilities: Receive the swing from the handler on your side, but also threaten deep when the disc moves to the other side of the field.
Positioning: Stay near the sidelines (within 5 yards).  You should move upfield (say, 15-20 yards behind the cup) when the disc is on the other side of the field, ready to break long if the disc breaks through the cup and the deep cuts in.  When the disc is swung towards your side, wings must break in, looking to gain 10-15 yards up the line (or at least suck the defensive wing over so that inside space is left for a popper).  You should be willing to come as far back as even with the cup to receive the swing. Even if you don't gain yardage, it is essential that the handler have the option of swinging the disc fully sideline-to-sideline.
Progression of Looks: 1) To the popper on your side. 2) Back to the near handler. 3) If trapped, to the far handler

2 poppers

Responsibilities: Work with the offensive wing to exploit the 2-on-1 matchup against the defensive wing.
Positioning: In the middle of the field, just behind the cup. When the disc is swung, shadow the movement of the disc. The O Wing should draw the D Wing to the outside, and leave a hole just to the inside for the handler to exploit. A secondary responsibility is to look to exploit overpursuit by points or middle-middle.
Progression of Looks: 1) the other popper, looking to get it upfield as quickly as possible. 2) To the wing on your side. 3) back to the handler.

1 deep

Responsibilities: Gain yards once the disc breaks through the cup, while keeping the defense honest and preventing them from packing their defenders behind the cup.
Positioning: About 25-30 yards upfield, roaming around everywhere except right on the sidelines. You have to be in position to make the in-cut off of the popper. This is the principal means by which a zone offense gains yards. It also has the secondary benefit of freeing up space deep for a wing to break deep.  Also, obviously, if the deep deep is really shadowing him wherever he goes, should look to pull him deep to one side of the field, opening up room for hammers to 20-25 yard gains (popper or off-wing).
Progression of Looks: 1) The off-side wing. 2) To a popper running by. 3) The near-side wing. 4) Back to a handler.

Strategy:

Handlers swing the disc, or look to break over the top with short hammers (in front of the deep deep).  Generally not trying to go through the middle of the cup, unless it's really ragged.  The general attack is Handler --> Handler --> Wing coming back or popper (if the wing is cut off by the d-wing).

See the swing in action (Flash is required).

If the wing gets it, you've gained some yardage, but the zone is usually intact.  The wing has one look to the popper on his side, and then should swing back to a handler, and across to the other handler, who has the same (wing/popper) option.  Eventually, they start to bite hard on the wing cut, and you hit the popper inside.

When the popper gets it, the zone is in big trouble for a few seconds, and you should take advantage fast. You have a 4-on-2 advantage... use it! Popper should look to continue the movement across the field, nearly always to the other popper, and then to the deep cutting in. Meanwhile, the off-side wing breaks deep. The deep-deep is forced to choose who to cover, and you can usually gain 20-30 yards before the defense has a chance to regroup.

See the breakout in action (Flash is required).

If at any point the cup resets, you dump it back, and do it again.

Near the end zone:

The throw through the cup becomes a bigger threat (and option).  The swing all the way around is more difficult, as is the up the line gain.  Handlers should fake more, and poppers exploit the holes produced by overpursuit.