Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 10 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Stretch out of I Form Pro is an outside zone run play that sends the offensive line flowing laterally toward the play side while the HB takes the handoff and reads blocks from sideline to sideline before deciding to bounce, bang, or bend the run. The diagram shows the FB leading through the hole with the HB stacked behind him, both flowing in the same direction as the zone blocking scheme, with no route concepts shown since this is a designed zone run rather than a pass or RPO. This is a pure zone run play, and the primary read progression for the ball carrier is the playside tackle and TE block first, then the FB kickout or lead block, before pressing the line and picking his gap based on how the defense flows.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a heavy box with extra linebackers or a safety cheating down, since that signals they are keying run and will fill gaps fast. Watch the playside defensive end and outside linebacker leverage, if they are staying wide and squeezing the edge, the cutback lane inside will open up. Post-snap, track whether the user is controlling a linebacker to spy the FB lead block or shooting a gap, since a well timed A gap blitz can blow this play up before it develops. Look for slow flowing linebackers who overpursue the zone stretch action, this is the primary weakness this play exploits and sets up cutback running lanes. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with safeties staying deep and not adding to the box, this play has a numbers advantage and should hit consistently.
Usage Tips
Run this play early in drives on first and second down to establish outside zone tempo and set up your play-action shots later in the set like PA Boot or PA Sprint HB Flat.
Check the defensive front pre-snap and look for light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since HB Stretch struggles against stacked eight man fronts.
Use the FB lead block as your primary key, if the FB is getting immediately engulfed by an edge defender, bounce the run outside earlier than usual.
Pair HB Stretch with HB Counter Str and HB Misdirection in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect zone flow before you hit them with counter action off the same look.
Against aggressive linebackers who crash hard on run flow, this play hits big because the zone stretch pulls them out of position, so avoid calling it against disciplined gap-sound defenses that stay home.
