Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn HB Off Tackle is a Shotgun run play out of Normal Y Off with a pre-snap motion tag that shifts the backfield look before the snap. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down at the point of attack with the HB taking a track toward the off tackle hole, following the motion to attack the edge with double team blocks up front and a lead blocker sealing the alley defender. This is a gap scheme run play designed to beat aggressive fronts that overcommit inside, with the primary read being the play side double team and whether the edge defender squeezes down or stays wide.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow linebackers flowing hard to the play side gap indicate the defense read run and will fill the off tackle lane fast. Check safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety cheating toward the play side signals they may be gap sound against this concept. Man coverage with the corner locked outside on motion is a green light since the run does not depend on route separation. Zone shells with linebackers sitting in run fits and not biting on motion will shut this down quickly, so look for defenders staying square instead of flowing with the fake or shift. Post snap, track the edge defender key: if he sits and reads instead of crashing inside, the ball carrier should bounce wider off the double team block.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety to match, since that tells you if they are keying run motion. Call this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage when defenders are playing base fronts without extra box defenders. If the defense shows a heavy box with 8 or more defenders crashing down, consider hot routing the TE into a quick flat or checking to a different play from the set. Pair this with Mtn HB Swing or Zone Fake Jet in the same set to keep defenders honest on the same motion look, since they will diagnose run versus play action off initial backfield action. Against teams that shoot gaps aggressively, this off tackle track hits quick enough to catch penetration before it disrupts the play.
