Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Off Tackle out of the Pistol Strong 21 personnel set is a downhill run play designed to hit off the tackle box with the fullback leading through the hole. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down with the FB releasing into the alley to seal the edge defender, while the HB takes the handoff from Pistol and presses the tackle before making a one cut decision based on the flow of the defense. This is not a man or zone beater since it has no route combos attached, it is a straight run play, and the primary read progression is playside gap integrity first, then bounce outside off the FB kick out block if the edge is squeezed.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for stacked box fronts or a walked up linebacker over the tackle since this signals the defense is loaded to stop the off tackle run. Watch the defensive end alignment, if he is sitting wide to take away the edge, the HB should look for the cutback lane created by the down blocks. Post-snap, key the Mike linebacker's first step, if he flows hard playside without respecting the cutback this play breaks for extra yards. Against odd fronts with a true nose tackle, this play struggles unless the FB can get a clean kick out on the edge defender. Man coverage shells with blitzing linebackers can be exploited if the FB picks up the blitzer, so identify pre-snap blitz indicators like a safety creeping into the box.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when defenses are still guessing run or pass out of Pistol Strong.
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or more in the box consider audibling to a play-action shot instead.
Watch linebacker depth, if the Mike is sitting shallow expecting a quick hitter, use your FB lead block to seal him and get the HB working downhill fast.
Pair this with HB Power and HB Blast Alert X Smoke from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple gaps and can't key on one blocking scheme.
User the FB after the snap to manually adjust his kick out block if the defensive end crashes hard, this keeps the alley open for the cutback.
