Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Mid Draw out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close is a designed delay run that shows pass blocking at the snap before the offensive line climbs to create rushing lanes up the middle. The trips slot receivers push vertically off the line to hold corners and safeties, occupying coverage defenders and keeping linebackers from reading run early, while the running back settles behind the quarterback to let the front develop before hitting the gap. This is a pure run play built to bait aggressive pass rush and blitz packages, with the primary read being the running back reading the mike linebacker and interior defensive line flow before deciding on the cutback lane or the designed A-gap.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits back in coverage or bails to a zone drop instead of attacking downhill, this draw has room to work. Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the backfield, since a disciplined spy or lurking linebacker can blow this play up before the back reaches the line. Identify blitz packages pre-snap, since overloaded interior blitzes with delayed linebacker fills are the best counter to HB Mid Draw and can meet the back in the backfield. Check safety depth post-snap, if both safeties stay deep respecting play-action or dropback pass, the box is lighter and this draw has a clean angle to the second level. Look for defensive tackles getting up the field too fast on the snap, since disciplined gap control up front is what stops this play cold rather than pure speed off the edge.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs against defenses that are keying pass with two-high safety shells, since the draw action freezes overaggressive edge rushers and blitzing linebackers.
Watch the pre-snap alignment of the middle linebacker: if he is creeping toward the line or showing blitz, this play punishes that aggression by letting the offensive line climb after the fake.
Use this in sequence after calling 45 Quick Base or RNS Hitches from the same set so the defense respects the pass look and bites harder on the draw fake.
Avoid calling this against stacked fronts with extra linebackers at short depth, since the delayed handoff gives quick-trigger defenders time to fill the interior gaps.
On third and short, pair this with Speed Option or Divide from the same formation to keep the defense guessing between run and pass without changing personnel.
