Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Draw out of Shotgun Box HB Strong is designed to look like a pass play before handing off to the HB on a delayed run through the interior. The four vertical stems from the receivers and TE are pure window dressing meant to pull linebackers and safeties back into their drops, buying the offensive line time to set up its pass-blocking-style draw scheme up front. This is a base run play, not a man or zone beater in the route sense, and the primary read progression is simply the HB reading the initial double team or combo block up front, then working off the fullback or guard's block to find the cutback lane behind him.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, identify the number of defenders in the box and their depth, since a light box with linebackers backpedaling into coverage drops is the ideal shell for this draw to hit. Watch for user-controlled linebackers spying the backfield or sitting flat instead of dropping, since a disciplined spy or lurking defender can blow up the draw before the blocks develop. Man coverage shells with the corners turning their backs to run with the vertical routes actually help the draw, since it pulls linebackers into pass drops and away from the run fit. Zone coverages with linebackers reading the QB's eyes and staying square are the toughest matchup, since those defenders can react to the delayed handoff quicker and fill downhill. Post snap, key the interior defensive line stunts and blitzes, since a well timed A gap or B gap blitz can beat the draw's blocking scheme before the HB reaches the line of scrimmage.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in obvious passing situations like second or third and long when defenses are geared up to drop into coverage or send a passing-down blitz package.
Snap the ball quickly after your presnap read to catch defenders keying pass drops, since draws lose value once the defense recognizes run and squats.
Use this play to punish aggressive four man rush packages and dime or nickel personnel that are light in the box, since the delayed handoff lets blockers climb to the second level before defenders diagnose run.
Pair this with Inside Zone and PA Scissors from the same Box HB Strong set so the defense cannot sit on run fits, letting the vertical stems from HB Draw sell the same launch point as your play-action shots.
Avoid calling HB Draw against defenses showing heavy run blitz or a stacked box presnap, since extra defenders crashing downhill erase the delayed timing this play depends on.
