Playbooks

HB Sweep

Shotgun·Flanker Close·10
SweepRun Play
Play diagram for HB Sweep from Shotgun Flanker Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

HB Sweep out of Shotgun Flanker Close is a designed outside run that pulls linemen to seal the edge as the HB stretches wide before turning upfield, shown by the red path bending from behind the line out toward the perimeter. With four receivers spread wide (two split left, two split right) and no true blockers stacked in the backfield beyond the QB, the defense is forced to declare its edge run fits before the snap. This is a gap or man beater run scheme designed to attack light boxes and outside contain rather than a pass, with the primary read progression being the frontside edge defender's leverage, then the pulling blocker's kick out block, and finally the cutback lane if the edge is squeezed down.

Defensive Reads

Watch for the edge defender's alignment before the snap, if he is lined up outside the tackle in a wide nine technique this sweep will struggle to get outside. Key the linebacker depth, shallow linebackers who are quick to fill gaps can beat the pulling blocker to the point of attack and blow this up. Identify if the defense is in a run blitz or crashing the edge, since this sweep is vulnerable to a fast contain defender who forces the HB back inside into traffic. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the sideline, if the CPU or user linebacker overplays outside leverage the cutback lane becomes the better answer. This play is shut down by teams that keep an extra defender in the box or that key sweep motion and squeeze the edge with a scraping linebacker.

Usage Tips

Check the defensive box count before the snap and only run this against six or fewer in the box since the wide splits pull defenders away from the run fit.

Look for cornerbacks pressed on the outside receivers, as that usually signals man coverage and a lighter run support shell that this sweep can exploit.

User the pulling blocker to manually seal the edge defender if the CPU blocker whiffs, this is critical against aggressive edge crashers.

Pair this play with HB Counter and Inside Zone from the same set to keep the defense guessing on run direction and force linebackers to hesitate on their fits.

Best called on early downs like first and ten or second and short when defenses are not expecting outside runs and are geared up to stop inside zone.

Other Plays in Flanker Close