Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Sweep out of Shotgun Flanker Close is a designed outside run that pulls the offensive line to create a lead blocking edge for the HB. The diagram shows the running back taking a lateral path toward the sideline behind pulling linemen, with the offensive line sliding to seal the edge and open a lane outside the tackle box. This is a pure run play with no route concepts to beat man or zone coverage, so the primary read progression is simple: press the line of scrimmage, read the flow of the pulling blockers, and decide whether to bounce outside the edge block or cut upfield once the alley opens.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth and flow before the snap, stacked linebackers who crash hard to the play side signal an aggressive run fit that can be countered later with play action. Identify if the defense is running an outside contain scheme with the edge defender staying home, which shuts down the sweep by forcing the back back inside into a crowded box. Look for a blitz package sending extra defenders off the edge, since a hard edge blitz can beat the pulling blockers before they reach their landmark and blow up the sweep for a loss. Key on the safety alignment, a single high safety who flows hard to the sideline is a user threat that can string the play out and force a cutback with no lane. Recognize when the defense stacks the box with eight or more defenders, which eliminates the lane the pulling linemen are trying to create and makes the sweep a low value call.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only run HB Sweep into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the tackle area since the edge blockers need numbers to win outside.
Use manual control on the HB during the sweep and press play action to let the pulling blockers get to their landmarks before making your cut decision.
Pair this with HB Counter from the same set on early downs to keep defenders honest against misdirection while still hitting the edge with different timing.
Run this on 1st and 2nd down in normal down and distance to stay unpredictable and avoid tipping run on obvious rushing situations.
Mix in Inside Zone from Flanker Close in the same drive so defenders cannot sit on outside flow and get gashed up the middle when they overplay the sweep.
