Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 17 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Stretch out of Pistol Deuce Close is an outside zone run play with the RB taking a lateral handoff and pressing the playside edge before reading his blocks. The offensive line and both tight ends flow laterally in unison, reach blocking down the line to create a cutback lane while the HB presses the edge to stretch defenders horizontally. This is a zone run designed to beat gap-heavy fronts and overaggressive defensive tackles, with the primary read progression being playside cutback lane first, then bounce outside if the edge defender gets sealed, then backside cutback if the interior blockers lose containment.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a crashing defensive end or 5 technique that fires hard upfield, this creates the cutback lane the play is designed to hit. Identify Sam or Will linebackers who flow too fast laterally, over pursuit opens the backside cutback for a big gain. Look for safety rotation into the box pre-snap, an extra defender stacked near the line signals a run blitz or contain call that can blow up the stretch before the RB reaches the edge. Post-snap, key on the user controlled defender flying to the flow side, if he commits hard outside the RB should cut inside immediately. This play struggles against disciplined zone fronts where the DE stays home and the linebacker reads and fills the cutback lane, and it is vulnerable to edge blitzes from nickel or dime packages that beat the tight end to the corner.
Usage Tips
Run this when you see light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the stretch lane depends on winning horizontal spacing rather than sheer physicality.
Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep in a two high shell you have favorable numbers to hit the cutback since there is no extra run support close to the box.
User the playside tight end or lead blocker briefly after the snap to seal the edge defender, then release control back to the RB to make his zone read.
Pair this with HB Dive and Inside Zone Split from the same Deuce Close set to keep linebackers guessing between inside and outside zone hits, since all three plays share the same initial line movement.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short to medium) when defenses are likely in base personnel rather than nickel or dime looks that speed up the edge.
