Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn HB Draw is a delayed run play out of Shotgun Tight Slots with 11 personnel that uses pre-snap motion to shift the defense before the snap. The diagram shows the offensive line pass blocking at the snap to sell dropback pass, while the HB (red icon) sits in the backfield before slipping through the middle once the linebackers commit upfield on the pass rush. This is a run play designed to bait aggressive defenses and blitz packages, with the primary read being the play side gap that opens up as the defensive line overpursues the fake pass set.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers biting hard on the pass rush at the snap, that overaggression is exactly what this draw is designed to exploit. If the defense shows a two high safety shell with linebackers staying disciplined in their drops, the draw lane will be much tighter to hit. Man coverage on the motion man with a linebacker or defensive back trailing across the formation signals man beater opportunities elsewhere if you switch off the draw. User controlled defenders sitting in a spy or lurk technique in the middle of the field can blow this play up, so scan for a defender hanging back instead of rushing. Against nano blitz packages where interior linemen are quickly beaten before the draw develops, this play loses its blocking window and should be avoided.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Call this on early downs like first or second and short to medium distance so defenses do not sit in obvious run support looks.
Pair this with Mtn Inside Zone and HB Sweep in the same set so defenses cannot key on your run tendencies out of Tight Slots.
Sequence Mtn HB Draw after a few dropback pass plays like Stick or Mesh from this same formation so linebackers bite on the pass blocking sell and vacate the middle.
Avoid calling this against defenses showing heavy blitz packages with linebackers crashing downhill immediately, since the delayed hit can get blown up before the hole develops.
