Playbooks
Breakdown
94 Will is a power run play out of the I Form Close Flex set with 21 personnel, showing two wide receivers stacked on the left with no routes run since this is a designed handoff. The blocking scheme pulls the fullback and backside guard through the hole to lead block for the HB, with the offensive line executing down blocks and the TE sealing the edge for an off tackle run to the strong side. The primary read is the play side hole behind the pulling lead blocker, with the HB reading the fullback's block on the linebacker before deciding whether to cut inside or bounce it outside.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if they are sitting shallow and square to the line they are keying run and can beat the pulling blocker to the hole. Identify the strong side defensive end alignment, a wide nine technique invites the bounce outside while a tighter alignment favors the inside cutback lane. Look for a safety cheating down into the box pre-snap, that extra body is the biggest indicator this run gets stuffed. Key the play side linebacker's reaction to the fullback's pull, if he stays home and stacks the lead blocker the HB has to cut it back immediately. This run struggles against odd fronts with a stacked nose and inside linebackers reading gaps quickly, but it gashes light boxes and defenses playing off coverage expecting pass.
Usage Tips
Run this out of two back sets on early downs, especially 1st and 10 or 2nd and short, to keep defenses honest against your play-action package. Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box this is a green light to run 94 Will right at them. Use HB Power O and 95 Mike in the same personnel to keep linebackers guessing on which gap the lead blocker will hit. Pair this with PA Power O off the same look so the fake sells hard once you have established the run with 94 Will a few times. Avoid calling this into stacked eight man fronts since the extra defender kills the lead blocker's angle before the HB even reaches the hole.
