Playbooks
HB Off Tackle out of Shotgun Slot WR Backfield is a downhill run play designed to attack the edge of the offensive tackle box with a lead blocker leading through the hole. The offensive line combo blocks down at the point of attack while the fullback or lead blocker kicks out the edge defender, giving the HB a designated crease just outside the tackle before he can bounce it outside or cut it back based on flow. This is a base run play, not a play-action or RPO, so the primary read progression starts with the play side alignment: identify if the defense is stacked with extra box defenders or spread out, then read the down block leverage to decide whether to hit it downhill or bounce it wide off the edge defender's block.
Watch for a stacked box with a linebacker cheating toward the play side edge before the snap, since that pre-snap key signals the defense is loading up to stuff this exact gap. Identify if the defensive end or edge defender is squeezing hard down the line versus staying wide, since a hard squeezing edge defender kills the kick out block and forces the HB to cut back immediately. Man coverage on the perimeter with corners playing tight leaves extra run support at the second level, so look for linebackers flowing fast to the play side as a sign the defense is selling out to stop the edge run. User controlled defenders flying downhill from a Mike linebacker or strong safety spot are the biggest threat to this play, so watch the pursuit angle of the user defender before committing to the read. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with safeties reading run first will close the cutback lane quickly, so if the safety triggers downhill pre-snap this play loses its explosive potential.
Check the box count before the snap and only run this against six or fewer defenders in the box, since an extra hat at the line can beat the blocking scheme before the HB gets to the edge.
Use pre-snap motion out of the Slot WR Backfield look to identify man versus zone coverage, since a defender following the motion man confirms man coverage and opens up cutback lanes with less discipline from linebackers.
Hot route the slot receiver into a quick out or bring the backfield player in as an extra blocker if you diagnose an overloaded edge blitz, since Off Tackle relies on the edge getting kicked out cleanly.
Pair this play with Inside Zone from the same set to keep the defense honest on both the edge and the interior gaps, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
Run this on early downs like first and ten or short yardage second and short, since it is a between the tackles gap scheme run that loses value in obvious passing situations.