Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 96 playbooks
Breakdown
QB Sneak from the Goal Line Offense Normal set is a pure designed QB run with no route concept to read. The diagram shows the offensive line packed tight with no wide receivers split out, and the QB lined up directly under center with the interior line surging forward to push the pile at the snap. This is a short yardage power run, not a man beater or zone beater, since the design simply asks the QB to follow his blockers and fall forward for the required yard.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the defense is in a heavy goal line front with six or seven defenders in the box, since that is the look most likely to stop the sneak cold. Look for a shaded nose tackle lined up directly over the center, as this alignment clogs the exact lane the sneak wants to hit. Watch linebacker depth: if linebackers are crashed up tight to the line pre-snap, they can shoot the gap and meet the QB before he gets forward momentum. Post-snap, defenders who fire straight ahead without hesitation and stack the center will win this rep, while defenses that play read-and-react tend to get moved off the ball. If the user controls a linebacker and spies the QB instead of crashing, that user can be the difference maker in stuffing the sneak, so watch for that assignment switch.
Usage Tips
Only call this on 4th and 1 or 3rd and 1, or in true goal line situations inside the 1 yard line where you need a half yard or less.
Check the defensive front pre-snap and confirm the interior of the defensive line does not have a stacked nose tackle plus two plugging linebackers, since heavy fronts can blow this up.
Snap the ball quickly with minimal pre-snap motion to avoid tipping the play and to get a fast surge before linebackers can fill downhill.
Mix this in with FB Dive and HB Dive from the same formation so defenses cannot key on the QB Sneak every time you get to short yardage.
If the opponent starts stacking the box hard after seeing this once, counter with Strong Toss or HB Power G off the same personnel look to punish overcommitted defenders.
