Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Mid Draw out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a delayed run play designed to look like a pass at the snap before the HB takes the handoff and follows the interior blocking. The offensive line sells pass pro for a beat, then climbs to create running lanes up the middle while the QB drops back briefly to bait the pass rush upfield. This is a run play that punishes aggressive edge rushers and blitz-heavy fronts, with the primary read being the HB's patience through the mesh point followed by his choice of the A or B gap based on how the interior defenders flow.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a spy or a linebacker sitting in the middle of the field, disciplined defenders who stay home in the box will blow this play up quickly. Blitz packages that send extra rushers upfield are the biggest weakness for this concept since defensive backs stay attached in coverage and vacate run support. Check safety depth pre-snap, a single high safety cheating deep signals man or single high coverage that often leaves light boxes for the draw to exploit. Post-snap, track the defensive tackles and ends, if they are reading run instead of getting upfield the play loses its explosiveness and gets stuffed for minimal gain. User-controlled linebackers who stay patient at the second level rather than flowing hard to the play side are the biggest threat to shutting this run down.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in obvious passing situations like 2nd and long to catch defenders selling out on the pass rush.
Check the defensive line alignment pre-snap, this play thrives against wide 9 techniques and upfield rushers who overrun the mesh point.
Let the draw develop fully before making a decision, patience at the mesh point is critical since the blocking needs an extra beat to set up.
Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Smoke or RPO Alert Smoke from the same set to keep defenders honest on run fits versus pass reads.
Mix in Inside Zone earlier in a series so linebackers respect downhill run action, then hit them with the delayed timing of HB Mid Draw when they start jumping the snap.
