Playbooks

Mesh HB Sneak

Shotgun·Doubles Z Close Wk·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Seahawks OffenseOffenseNFL Live Seahawks OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mesh HB Sneak is a man beater built around a classic mesh concept, with crossing routes underneath designed to rub off man defenders and create natural picks, while the HB Sneak run action gives a hard count element that can freeze linebackers on early downs. The blocking scheme up front is a standard pass protection look out of Shotgun 11 personnel, giving the QB a clean pocket to work through his crossers before checking down. The primary read progression starts with the mesh crossers working shallow to intermediate depth, then progresses to the underneath check down or the sneak action if the mesh is covered or the pocket collapses.

Defensive Reads

Man coverage with linebackers manned up on the crossers is the biggest green light for this play, since the natural mesh point creates traffic that man defenders struggle to fight through. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk spot over the middle, since a skilled defender can jump the shallow crosser and turn it into a pick six if the QB stares down the mesh too long. Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells with linebackers sinking into short zones can shut this play down by clogging the crossing lanes, forcing the QB into a checkdown or the sneak action. Pre-snap, identify safety depth and cornerback press alignment, since tight press man with no safety help over the top is exactly the look this concept is designed to exploit. Post-snap, key on whether linebackers trigger downhill on the sneak action or stay disciplined in coverage, since aggressive run blitz reads can open up the mesh crossers behind them for an easy pitch and catch.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and short to medium, since the sneak action and quick mesh crossers are designed to convert manageable distances rather than hit explosive plays downfield.

Pre-snap, check for man coverage indicators like tight cornerback alignment and linebackers shading toward the mesh crossers, since this concept thrives against man to man and struggles against sticky zone drops that clog the middle.

If you see a two high shell with soft corners, consider hot routing one of the mesh crossers into a shallow out or speed out to beat off coverage from cornerbacks playing off.

Pair this play with Slants or RPO Read Bubble earlier in a series to condition the defense to expect quick horizontal routes, then hit Mesh HB Sneak when linebackers start jumping underneath throws.

Against blitz heavy defenses, get the ball out fast on the first crosser that clears traffic, since the sneak action alone will not hold up long if extra rushers are sent and protection breaks down.

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