Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Escort Power Read Toss is a power run concept out of Shotgun Bunch TE that gives the QB a give or keep read based on the backside end player. The diagram shows the HB motioning across the formation before the snap to set his path, the fullback or lead blocker (red arrow) attacking downhill to kick out or wrap on the point of attack, and a puller (yellow arrow) climbing to the second level as the escort blocker. The primary read progression is the QB reading the edge defender on the toss side: give the ball on the toss path if that defender crashes inside, or pull and keep if he sits wide to take away the toss.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the backside edge defender pre-snap since a wide 9-technique or contain-first end tips the QB toward keeping the ball. Track linebacker depth after the motion, since linebackers who flow hard with the HB motion open up cutback lanes for the keep read. This play struggles against disciplined scrape exchange defense where the end sits and the linebacker takes the QB, so watch for that assignment swap. User-controlled defenders spying the QB or sitting in the backside B-gap can blow up the keep option, so bait them with the HB fake before committing. Heavy blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge on the play side can beat the escort blocker to the point of attack, so check protection or motion to adjust numbers.
Usage Tips
Use the HB motion before the snap to identify if the defense shifts into a run blitz or bumps a linebacker over the top of the bunch look.
Key the backside defensive end or OLB immediately after the snap since he is the read defender that determines give or keep.
Run this on early downs or short yardage when defenses expect a pass out of Bunch TE, since the formation disguises run intent well.
Pair this with Escort HB Split Zone and HB Off Tackle from the same set so defenses cannot sit on one blocking scheme or one gap.
If the defense shows heavy box counts or a safety creeping down pre-snap, consider checking to a play-action shot instead since the numbers favor the pass.
