Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Iso is a downhill power run out of the I Form Close Flex set with 21 personnel, using the fullback as a lead blocker through the hole for the halfback. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking straight ahead at the point of attack while the FB leads through the gap, giving the HB a clean crease to follow. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater, and the primary read progression is the HB reading the FB's block to decide whether to hit the hole downhill or bounce outside based on how the linebackers flow.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker depth before the snap, since a stacked or crashing MLB signals a run blitz that HB Iso struggles against without a second blocker. Watch the fullback release at the snap, because if the defense sends a linebacker to meet him in the hole immediately, the play is likely blown up and the HB needs to bounce it outside. This play gets stopped by base 4-3 or 3-4 fronts with disciplined gap integrity and a user-controlled linebacker filling the alley, since there is no misdirection to hold defenders. It beats light boxes and nickel or dime packages that sub out run defenders, since the numbers advantage at the point of attack favors the offense. Look for safety rotation pre-snap too, since a single high safety cheating down into the box removes the cutback lane and forces the HB to commit to the called gap immediately.
Usage Tips
Run HB Iso against defenses stacked in the box with linebackers reading run keys, since the FB lead block is designed to erase the first defender in the alley.
Use it on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and keep the defense honest against your pass-heavy calls in this set.
Watch pre-snap for a linebacker crashing downhill or a nano blitz look, and if you see it, consider audibling to HB Power O or 94 Will instead since Iso lacks the extra lead blocker to handle a stacked front.
Pair this with PA Level or PA Spot from the same Close Flex set so the defense has to respect the run action before you hit them with a play-action shot off the same personnel.
Take control of the fullback pre-snap if you are comfortable manually steering the lead block, since picking the right side of the alley to attack based on linebacker leverage can turn a two-yard gain into a explosive run.
