Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fk Cheat HB Stretch Behind is a play action shot off outside zone action that uses the fake stretch run to hold linebackers and safeties before attacking behind the line of scrimmage. The motion at the snap adds misdirection to the zone fake, and the boot action off the run gives the quarterback a rollout throw with a shallow crosser or drag sitting behind the run fake to punish flowed linebackers. This is primarily a zone beater since it exploits linebackers and underneath defenders who bite on the outside zone fake and vacate the shallow throwing lane, with the primary read being the underneath route working behind the play action fake before working to any secondary breaking route.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth pre-snap, if the second level defenders are sitting shallow and crashing hard on run fakes they will vacate the underneath zone this play attacks. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high alignments often mean the defense is selling out to stop the run which opens up the behind route. Watch for user controlled linebackers spying the play action rollout, if the defense mirrors the quarterback with a lurking defender this play gets shut down quickly. Key on the flow of the defensive line and edge defenders, if they crash hard to the play side on the zone fake the backside is open for the rollout throw. Beware of Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 match shells with disciplined linebackers who stay home on play action, this coverage shell squeezes the shallow window and forces a checkdown or scramble.
Usage Tips
Run this out of early down situations, ideally first or second and short to medium, so the defense respects the outside zone fake from Fk Cheat HB Stretch and Fk Cheat Outside Zone in the same set.
Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely seeing man coverage and can hot route the underneath crosser into a deeper option.
Sell the play fake by holding the RS stick on the run action for a beat before rolling out, this keeps linebackers frozen and opens the throwing window behind the line.
Pair this call with Fk Cheat Outside Zone and Fk Cheat HB Stretch on early downs to establish the run fake, then hit this play action shot once the defense starts flowing hard to stop the zone run.
Against aggressive user blitzers, hot route your inline tight end into a quick flare or check release to give the quarterback a fast outlet if the rollout lane gets crowded.
