Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Bunch HB Draw is a delayed run play out of a bunch look in the Shotgun Tight Flex formation. At the snap the offensive line shows pass protection before releasing to their run blocking assignments, giving the defense a pass read while the HB sits and lets the play develop before hitting the hole. The three receivers to one side occupy the bunch alignment to influence coverage rotation and clear space underneath, while the design keys on the defensive line and linebackers biting on the initial pass set. Primary read is the interior run lanes off the delayed handoff, reading the natural cutback lane created by aggressive pass rush flow.
Defensive Reads
Key the defensive line's first two steps after the snap, if they are selling hard upfield on a speed rush this draw will gash them badly. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who crash downhill on perceived pass sets get washed out of the play. This concept struggles against disciplined gap control defenses and defensive lines coached to stay home on shotgun run downs. Identify if the defense is in a zone blitz shell with delayed linebacker drops, since those linebackers can still recover in time to fill the cutback lane. User controlled defenders spying the backfield or sitting in the A gap will erase this play, so avoid calling it against defenses showing a mike linebacker spy alignment pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Call this play when the defense has shown consistent aggressive pass rush tendencies or heavy blitz packages on early downs, since the delayed action punishes fast upfield rushers. Use it on second and short or first and ten to keep the defense honest against your shotgun passing attack out of Tight Flex. Watch pre-snap for stacked box counts or blitz indicators from the middle linebacker, and if the box is loaded consider checking to a quick game concept like Stick or Slot Curl instead. Pair this with Mesh Spot or Double Spot earlier in a series so the defense respects the pass first, making the draw hit harder once linebackers start sitting on route concepts. Take manual control of the HB after the handoff to make the first man miss, since the delayed timing means defenders will already be flowing hard toward the mesh point.
