Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
QB Blast is a designed QB run out of the Empty Y Slot set with 5 eligible receivers spread wide and no running back in the backfield. The offensive line down blocks in unison to create an interior lane, with the QB taking the snap and hitting the gap downhill behind the center for a quick power run. This is a pure gap scheme run play, not a pass or RPO, and it is designed to catch defenses in pass-heavy shells that vacate the box against empty formations.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebacker depth at the snap, if they are sitting back in zone drops expecting pass from the empty formation, the interior lane opens up for the QB. Watch for a spy or a defender staying home in the box, since man coverage on all five receivers usually leaves the middle vulnerable to this run. Diagnose blitz packages pre-snap, if the defense brings extra rushers off the edge, the interior blocking can still create room since the rushers are working outside the play design. User-controlled defenders sitting in the intermediate zone can jump downhill late, so this play loses value if the defense recognizes the run keys quickly. This gets shut down by a stacked front with a run blitz call or by a defense that keeps a linebacker spying the QB despite the empty look.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs against defenses that show light boxes or nickel and dime personnel in response to the empty backfield look.
Check the pre-snap alignment for stacked or shaded linebackers over the center, since a clean A-gap read is critical for this play to hit fast.
Use this after establishing Four Verticals or Stick from the same set so defenses respect the pass first and sell out on coverage, leaving the box thin.
Avoid calling this into loaded fronts or when the defense shows a run blitz with linebackers crashing downhill pre-snap.
Best used on 2nd or 3rd and short to medium since the QB run threat with empty personnel forces defenders to declare pass coverage responsibilities immediately.
