Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Draw out of Shotgun Bunch Open TE is a designed delay run that shows pass blocking at the snap before handing off to the HB on a middle draw. The bunch alignment to one side and the trips-style split with the TE detached create natural run blocking angles while disguising the play as a pass look. This is a pure run play, not a man or zone beater in the route sense, since it attacks the defensive front's aggressiveness rather than exploiting coverage. The primary read is patience: let the offensive line set up the initial pass pocket look, then find the natural crease as the interior blocking develops before making one cut downhill.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether linebackers are showing blitz or sitting back in coverage since an empty box with blitzing linebackers is the ideal trigger for this draw to hit big. Watch defensive end alignment and hand placement, if the ends are crashing hard off the edge on run downs the draw will have a clean lane up the middle. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's first step, if he flows to the play-action fake or bites on the pass rush the draw will break through the vacated gap. Man coverage with blitzing linebackers is the best matchup for this play, while disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers reading the mesh point can shut it down quickly. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield, since a spy or lurk defender sitting in the box will erase the draw's delayed timing advantage.
Usage Tips
Call this play on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when the defense is showing an aggressive pass rush or blitz-heavy pre-snap look. Use the shotgun draw action to bait defensive ends and blitzing linebackers into overrunning the play, then hit the cutback lane once they commit upfield. Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble earlier in a drive so the defense respects the quick game and stays honest instead of selling out against the run. Avoid calling HB Draw against disciplined defenses that stay home on delayed run action or against heavy zone blitz packages that keep linebackers in run fits. On the sticks, mix HB Draw with Y Trail or Z Spot out of the same bunch formation to keep the defense guessing between run and quick pass without changing your pre-snap alignment.
