Playbooks

Mtn HB Stretch

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11
Outside ZoneMotionRun PlayZone Run
Play diagram for Mtn HB Stretch from Shotgun Bunch TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Mtn HB Stretch is an outside zone run out of Shotgun Bunch TE with pre-snap motion sending a bunch receiver across to adjust the defensive numbers before the snap. The offensive line and TE flow laterally toward the play side to stretch the defense horizontally, sealing edges and creating a cutback lane while the HB reads blocks from the mesh point outward. This is a zone run designed to attack overpursuit, so the primary read progression starts with the playside edge, moves to the alley defender, and finishes with the cutback lane if the front flows too hard.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap, since a wide alignment or crashing tendency signals they will try to blow up the stretch before it develops. Check safety depth and rotation after the motion, since a safety sprinting down into the box usually means the defense is loading up to stop the edge run. Key the middle linebacker's first step, if he flows hard with the zone action it opens the cutback lane for the HB. This play struggles against gap exchange and disciplined edge defenders who stay home instead of crashing, since that eliminates the natural bounce lane the stretch is designed to create. Look for defenses that scrape hard to the play side on outside zone tendencies, since a user controlled defender jumping the edge too aggressively leaves the cutback wide open.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is running with the bunch receiver or staying static, since that tells you if you are facing man or zone leverage on the edge.

Attack light boxes and situations where the defense shows off ball linebackers cheating outside, since the stretch scheme thrives against overaggressive flow to the play side.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick hitch or slant if you see a blitz look, giving the QB a bailout option if the run gets blown up pre-snap.

Pair this play with Mtn Mid Zone and Inside Zone in the same set to keep linebackers honest, then hit them with this wider stretch look once they start flowing hard to the interior.

Best called on early downs or short yardage situations where defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts instead of nickel or dime packages that flood the edges.

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