Playbooks

RB Sweep

Shotgun·Split Slot Open·20
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RB Sweep out of Shotgun Split Slot Open is an outside zone style run designed to get the running back to the edge behind pulling blockers before the defense can flow. The offensive line reach blocks the play side while the backside guard or fullback pulls to lead through the alley, giving the back a run, bounce, or cutback decision. This is a straightforward run play with no play-action or RPO element attached, so the primary read progression is the running back reading the edge defender and playside linebacker flow to decide whether to hug the sideline or cut inside off the puller.

Defensive Reads

Watch for the play side defensive end setting a hard edge, this forces the back to cut back inside earlier than the design intends Identify if the linebackers are flowing fast and downhill at the snap, aggressive linebacker flow can outrun the blocking scheme and blow up the sweep before it develops Look for a user controlled defender spying the running back or crashing down from depth, this is the most common way good players kill outside runs in competitive play Check safety depth and rotation, a safety cheating down into the box pre-snap signals run support that can outnumber your blockers on the perimeter Man coverage with off corners tends to open cutback lanes since the corner is turned and out of position to set the edge, while heavy zone fronts with disciplined ends tend to shut this down

Usage Tips

Attack light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the outside runs live on numbers advantage at the point of attack

Use this in early down situations like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and set up your play-action shots later in the drive

Check the alignment of the play side defensive end and outside linebacker before the snap, if they are crashing hard inside every play the sweep to that side hits big

Pair this with Mtn RPO Alert QB Counter and HB Power O from the same set so the defense cannot sit on one gap or one direction without getting gashed by the other

Motion or shift can help you diagnose man versus zone before the snap, if the defense shows heavy man coverage on the perimeter the sweep can pull a corner out of position for a cutback lane

Avoid calling this into stacked fronts with extra defenders already leveraging the edge, that is a spot to check into an inside zone or QB counter instead

Other Plays in Split Slot Open