Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Draw out of Shotgun Doubles Z Close is a designed delay run that shows pass-blocking pass set at the snap before the offensive line pivots to run blocks, letting the defensive line and linebackers flow upfield on a rush before the HB takes the handoff up the middle. The diagram shows two vertical routes stacked outside on each side to hold the corners and safeties deep while the interior five linemen wall off the box, creating a lane for the back to press either A gap. This is a zone and man beater by design since it exploits aggressive pass rush lanes and overpursuing linebackers rather than attacking a coverage shell, and the primary read progression for the HB is patience: press the play side A gap first, then bounce to the backside cutback lane if the interior gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a defensive lineman or linebacker being spied on the running back pre-snap, which signals the defense expects delay action and will blow up the draw before it develops Key on user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field instead of dropping into their zone assignment, since a patient MLB or spy neutralizes this play immediately If the corners bite hard on the outside vertical routes and safeties rotate down into the box pre-snap, that Cover 0 or heavy run-support shell will not have time to react and this play hits big Look for interior defensive tackles executing a controlled rush with contain rather than crashing hard upfield, which stuffs the draw at the mesh point Nano blitzes sent straight up the A or B gap are the fastest counter since they beat the pulling and wall-off blocking before the HB can even take the handoff cleanly
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in obvious passing situations like second and long to bait aggressive user pass rushers and defensive linemen crashing off the edge
Pre-snap, look for defenses showing Cover 3 or Cover 1 with linebackers creeping toward the line, since those fronts overcommit to the pass rush and open the middle
Pair this with Read Option and Inside Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple run looks out of the identical Doubles Z Close formation without tipping your hand
Use it right after calling RPO Glance Post or RPO Zone Peek Glance to condition the defense into keying run action, then hit them with the draw when they start jumping the RPO fakes
Avoid calling HB Draw against defenses that consistently spy the running back or use a nano blitz through the A gap, since the design has no answer if the interior gets immediately collapsed
