Playbooks

Mtn HB Swing

Shotgun·Doubles Y Off·11

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Y Off

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

Mtn HB Swing is a quick-hitting screen and check-down concept out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off, designed to get the ball to the running back in space before the defense can close on him. The offensive line sets up a soft screen or swing block to the flat while the receivers run routes upfield to clear out underneath defenders and occupy corners and linebackers. The primary read is the HB swing route out of the backfield, with the QB working through any hot routed slot or TE option as the check-down if the flat is jumped by a defender playing outside contain.

Defensive Reads

Key the flat defender and the nearest linebacker at the snap since Cover 3 zone drops tend to leave the swing wide open before the corner can react. Watch for a linebacker spy or a defender sitting in the shallow hook zone, as this signals a robber or lurk concept designed to jump the swing route immediately. Man coverage with linebackers matched up on the HB is the easiest matchup to exploit since most linebackers cannot stay in phase with a back in space. Cover 2 or Tampa 2 shells with a hard flat defender rolling down can shut this down quickly, so be ready to hot route or check down elsewhere if you see the corner squatting outside. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can also disrupt the timing of this route, so identify five or six man pressure looks pre-snap and consider sliding protection or checking to a quicker outlet.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or third and short when defenses are selling out to stop the pass over the middle or expecting a dropback shot play. Look for the defense showing man coverage or a Cover 1 shell pre-snap since the HB swing exploits linebackers who have to run with the back into open grass. Motion the HB or check the flat defender pre-snap to confirm if a defender is spying the backfield, and if so hot route the near slot receiver to a quick out or drag to give yourself a second option. Pair this with Mtn PA Sweep H-Angle or Mtn Spinner HB Counter earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action and bites on the play fake, making the swing hit even faster against overaggressive linebackers. Use play action heavy calls like Mtn PA Y Screen or Mtn PA Wheel as changeups after running this a few times to keep defenders honest on their flat drops.