Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn 0 1 Trap is a power run play out of Pistol Full House TE with 22 personnel that uses a pre-snap motion to shift numbers before the snap. The diagram shows the fullback and offensive line executing a trap blocking scheme, pulling an interior lineman across the formation to kick out the first defender inside the tackle box while the running back takes a downhill path through the vacated gap. This is a run-first play with no route concept shown, designed to attack gap exchanges and create a lead blocker in a tight rushing lane. The primary read for the ball carrier is to press the trap block, read the kick-out block on the first threat, and cut off the block based on how the defender reacts.
Defensive Reads
Watch the interior defensive tackle alignment pre-snap since a shaded or crashing tackle is the primary target of the trap block and the exact defender this play is designed to exploit. Check linebacker depth before the snap, if they are sitting shallow and reading run fits aggressively they will get caught by the trap and lose the point of attack. Post-snap, key on whether the second level defender flows hard to the play side motion, overcommitted linebackers create the cutback lane this play is built to hit. This play struggles against gap-sound defenses that hold their linebackers home and refuse to bite on the motion, especially in run blitz packages with extra defenders stacked in the box. Man or lurk defenders are not a major factor here since there is no route concept, so focus entirely on box count and second level pursuit angles rather than coverage shells.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety, which tells you whether you are getting a favorable box count for the trap.
Run this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage situations where defenses are not stacked for a heavy run blitz.
If you see a defensive tackle crashing hard inside pre-snap, this play punishes that aggression since the trap block turns his own gap penetration against him.
Pair Mtn 0 1 Trap with Mtn Power O and Counter Lead from the same Full House TE set to keep defenses guessing between gap schemes and force linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
Set up this trap look with Read Option or HB Dive earlier in a drive so the defense commits their linebackers downhill, then hit them again with the trap once they are flowing too fast.
