Playbooks
QB Blast is a designed QB run out of the Shotgun Heavy Panther set that sends the quarterback directly downhill through the interior of the offensive line, using the 23 personnel grouping to stack extra beef at the point of attack. The blocking scheme relies on double teams at the point of attack with the fullback and offensive line climbing to the second level, clearing lanes for the quarterback to hit the crease quickly. This is a straight gap run, not a play-action or RPO look, so the primary read progression for the ball carrier is simply identifying which gap the double team springs open (typically A or B gap) and getting skinny through it before second level defenders can fill.
Watch the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, a linebacker sitting shallow at 3 to 4 yards is keying the run and will fill the interior gap fast, which shuts this play down. Identify if the defense is running a 4-3 or 3-4 front, odd fronts with a nose tackle head up on the center make the double team block harder to execute cleanly. Look for defensive tackles slanting hard to one gap pre-snap, since a slant away from the play call opens a bigger crease for the QB to run through untouched. Post-snap, track whether the play side linebacker is reading run and stepping up immediately or if he is playing pass first and reacting late, the latter gives the QB extra yards before contact. Man coverage on the perimeter with safeties rotated deep signals fewer defenders in the box, which is the ideal shell for this interior QB run to hit big.
Call QB Blast on short yardage and goal line situations where defenses are stacking the box to stop the run, since the extra gap created by the QB run threat forces defenders to respect an additional rusher.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if linebackers crash toward the strength of the formation, then attack the opposite bubble if the defense overloads one side.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Dive and Mtn Inside Zone in the same set to keep defenders guessing about which gap the ball is actually hitting, since all three plays start with similar line movement.
Mix in QB Power on the next snap after running QB Blast, since both are designed QB runs but hit different frontside gaps, forcing linebackers to slow their trigger.
Avoid calling this against defenses showing heavy A gap blitz looks unless you can identify the blitz pre-snap and check to a different run, since extra rushers in the interior can blow up the play before the double team seals.