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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Mid Draw KO is a delayed handoff run play out of Shotgun Doubles designed to bait aggressive pass rushers before hitting the interior gap. The offensive line shows pass protection for a beat, then transitions into down blocks and combo blocks up front to seal the middle linebacker and create a lane between the guards. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the route sense, and the primary read is the frontside gap: identify whether the Mike linebacker flows with the play fake or bites on the pass set, then decide between the initial crease or bouncing to the backside cutback lane.
Defensive Reads
Watch the Mike linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits back in pass drop the cutback lane opens wide once the draw hits. Key the defensive tackles and ends, if they are getting up the field on a speed rush the interior gap will be wide open behind them. User-controlled defenders who spy the quarterback or sit in a hook zone are the biggest threat to this play, since they can read the draw quickly and fill the hole. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge actually help this play since it removes defenders from the interior run fit. Look for a stacked front with linebackers already sitting close to the line of scrimmage pre-snap, that alignment signals the defense may have this run action scouted and ready to blow it up.
Usage Tips
Call this play on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when you have already shown pass looks from Shotgun Doubles to keep the defense honest.
Use the play fake sell by holding the pass block animation, then let the runner press the hole rather than juking immediately since the blocking needs time to develop up front.
This works best against defenses that bring pressure or crash hard on shotgun pass reads, since the draw action punishes overaggressive edge rushers and blitzing linebackers.
Pair it in a sequence with 45 Quick Base or RPO Peek Slant from this same set so the defense sees the same shotgun alignment and hesitates between run fits and pass drops.
Avoid calling HB Mid Draw KO against disciplined zone defenses that stay home on their run keys, since the delayed action loses its value if linebackers do not bite on the fake.
