Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Stretch out of the I Form Close set is an outside zone run play designed to get the HB moving laterally before making a one cut upfield. The diagram shows the FB and HB aligned in the backfield with the FB leading slightly ahead and to the play side, while the offensive line flows in unison toward the edge to set up zone blocking angles. This is a run play with no route concept, so the primary read is the playside handoff and stretch to the edge, with the HB reading the FB's kick out block and the OL's zone reach blocks to decide whether to bounce outside, bend it back, or press upfield through a cutback lane.
Defensive Reads
Watch the defensive ends and outside linebackers pre-snap: if they are crashing hard upfield, the HB stretch cutback lane will be there once you press the edge. Key the play side linebacker's run fit post-snap, if he flows too fast laterally the cutback window opens immediately behind the FB's kick out block. User a defensive tackle or linebacker to spy the cutback lane against offenses that lean heavily on HB Stretch to prevent the one cut from becoming a home run. This play struggles against gap-sound fronts with disciplined edge defenders who stay square and squeeze the stretch instead of over pursuing. Look for safeties cheating into the box pre-snap, an eight man front with quick-flowing linebackers is the best defensive answer to this outside zone scheme.
Usage Tips
Run this out of a run-heavy personnel look on early downs to keep the defense honest and set up your play-action shots later in the drive.
Check the defensive front pre-snap: if you see one or two light boxes or the defense sliding a linebacker out for coverage, HB Stretch has a clean crease to the edge.
Use the L2/LT (or equivalent) modifier to control the HB's angle so you can bend the run back against overpursuing defenses that flow hard to the sideline.
Pair this with Power O and HB Counter Wk from the same set so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
Best used on first and second down or in short yardage situations where you want to control tempo and bait the defense into overplaying the edge before hitting a cutback.
