Playbooks
1 Double TE out of the 3-3 Over Jack Nickel package is a run heavy personnel look that uses two inline tight ends to create extra gap integrity and misdirection at the point of attack. The blocking scheme leans on double team combos at the point of attack with the fullback or extra tight end sealing the edge, making this a base run play rather than a dropback or play-action concept. Primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the play side gap, read the first down lineman for the double team release, then bend backside off the puller if the alley is clogged.
Look for linebacker depth at the snap, if the Jack linebacker is crashing hard downhill this play is designed to cut back away from that flow. Identify one gap penetrating fronts, aggressive shooting gaps can blow this up quickly since the double team needs a beat to develop before climbing. Watch for stacked box looks with safeties creeping down, that alignment signals run blitz and you should be ready to bend the run to the perimeter rather than forcing it inside. This play is vulnerable to edge blitzes and nano pressure off the tight end side since it removes a blocker from account for a rusher, so check for overloaded edge pressure packages pre-snap. Against light boxes with two high safeties sitting back in zone shells, this run has a favorable numbers matchup and should be a called upon early down staple.
Call this out of heavier down and distance situations like 2nd or 3rd and short where defenses expect run but you still want a numbers advantage at the point of attack.
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box this play has a clean crease, if they load up to seven or eight consider checking to a perimeter run or a quick game beater instead.
Use the fullback or second tight end as your key, if he climbs to the second level cleanly you can stick the run, if he gets stalemated bend the run away from the traffic.
Pair this play with 1 Double WR1 in the same set to keep the defense guessing between two tight end run support and a spread run look without changing personnel or tempo.
Mix in Cover 1 LB Blitz or Buck Slant 3 from this set as complementary calls so opposing defenses cannot sit on run tendencies out of this personnel group.