Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Mid Draw out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk is a designed delay run that shows pass protection at the snap before the offensive line climbs to the second level to open an interior lane. The QB shows a quick drop to sell pass, then hands off to the HB who presses the middle of the formation behind the center and guards. This is strictly a run play with no route combos attached, built to punish aggressive pass rushers and linebackers who bite on the play fake, so the primary read is patience: let the draw develop, find the crease created by the double team up front, then break to whichever side the linebackers vacate.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker at the snap, if he steps upfield hard to rush the passer that is the confirmation the draw will hit big. Watch for user defenders spying the QB or sitting in a hook zone, since a disciplined spy will diagnose the handoff and close the lane immediately. Against man coverage shells, linebackers are usually locked onto the TE or HB in the route concept, meaning less traffic in the box for the draw to exploit. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge are actually susceptible if the interior stays sound, but any A gap blitz or nano blitz through the middle can blow this play up before the OL climbs. Post snap, track the safeties, if they stay high and slow to trigger downhill this play hits for explosive yardage, if they read draw immediately and fill the alley the HB has nowhere to go.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs after showing empty or spread pass sets so the defense is conditioned to rush the passer instead of reading run.
Use it as a change of pace after RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Read Bubble so linebackers stay frozen on run fits and get gashed when they crash the flats.
Check pre-snap for blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safeties creeping into the box, since a hard blitz can beat the delayed action before blockers get set.
Avoid calling this against heavy zone shells with linebackers sitting at depth, since they will read the draw quickly and fill downhill.
Sequence this with HB Delay and Read Option to build a run package that keeps second level defenders guessing between draw, delay, and zone read footwork.
