Playbooks

QB Blast

Shotgun·Bunch Wide·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch Wide

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

QB Blast is a quarterback sneak style designed run out of Shotgun Bunch Wide that hands the pressure to the QB himself, hitting straight upfield behind the center and guard for a short yardage push. There is no read progression in the traditional sense since this is a pure gap run, but the QB should key the interior defensive line surge, following the fullback or guard lead block through the point of attack. This is a run play built specifically to convert third and short or fourth and short, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense.

Defensive Reads

Watch for a stacked box pre-snap with linebackers crashing downhill, this is the look that shuts down QB Blast since there is minimal misdirection built into the design. A base 4-3 or 4-4 front with linebackers sitting at normal depth is where this play succeeds, since the numbers advantage at the point of attack favors the offense. Look for defenders keying the guard pull or fullback lead step, if the user jumps the play early with a linebacker spy or A gap blitz, the play has almost no answer since it is committed pre-snap. Goal line or short yardage defensive packages with extra defensive linemen will negate the push needed for this play to convert. If the defense shows an overload blitz to one side of the bunch, this play can still work since the interior gap being attacked is often away from the edge pressure.

Usage Tips

Save QB Blast for third or fourth and one to two yards, it is not a play to force on obvious passing downs.

Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or more in the box, consider audibling to a play action shot off this same personnel instead.

Use this play sparingly early in a game so opponents cannot key on it in short yardage and stack the interior defensive line.

Pair QB Blast with Inside Zone from the same Bunch Wide set to keep defenses honest on early downs before dialing up the sneak on the money down.

If your QB has below average strength or elusiveness ratings, consider user controlling the lead blocker to manually seal the running lane at the mesh point.