Playbooks

HB Punch

Shotgun·Ace Slot Offset·12

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Raiders OffenseOffenseNFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Punch out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset is a downhill gap run designed to hit the B gap in a hurry, using a lead blocker or pulling guard to punch open a crease for the HB. This is a run play, not a pass concept, and it leans on double team blocks at the point of attack up front with a puller or fullback style TE arriving to seal off the first level defender. The primary read for the ball carrier is the play side double team and the puller, pressing the hole until the puller commits, then bending outside or cutting back based on how the second level linebacker flows.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check if a linebacker has crept up to the line, which signals a run blitz or a gap exchange look designed to beat this exact concept. Watch safety depth before the snap. Two high safeties usually mean lighter boxes and more room to break this run outside if the puller gets a good kick out. Post-snap, track the play side linebacker's first step. If he flows hard downhill immediately, look for the cutback lane behind the double team. This run struggles against odd front looks with a heavy nose shade or a linebacker blitzing through the exact gap the puller is trying to reach, since it clogs the intended running lane before the puller arrives. If the defense shows Bear front or heavy stack looks with extra defenders crashing the line, bail to Inside Zone or the RPO Alert Bubble instead since Punch loses its blocking advantage against that many bodies at the point of attack.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs or short yardage situations like second or third and short where defenses expect a quick strike, not a heavy gap run.

Check the box count before the snap. If the defense has six or more in the box, consider audibling to RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble to make them pay for overloading the front.

Use manual control on the puller or lead blocker so you can adjust the kick out block in real time against a crashing defensive end or a blitzing linebacker.

Pair HB Punch with Same Side Zone and Inside Zone in your play calling sequence so linebackers cannot sit on one blocking scheme, forcing them to guess between zone flow and gap displacement.

Attack light boxes when the defense shows two high safeties, since that usually means only five or six defenders in the box and a numbers advantage for your run front.

Other Plays in Ace Slot Offset