Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Sweep out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close is a straight run play with the halfback taking the handoff and running laterally toward the sideline before turning upfield behind the pulling blocking scheme. The diagram shows the back starting near the backfield and sweeping wide to the left, relying on outside blockers to seal the edge and create a running lane. This is a perimeter run play designed to beat overaggressive interior run fits and light boxes, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, so the primary read is the edge: hit the alley if the corner or edge defender gets pinned, or cut it upfield off the first sign of color in the backfield.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side linebacker depth before the snap, if they are creeping up expecting run they will be the first defender to beat with a good edge seal. Key the defensive end or edge rusher's first step, if he crashes hard inside on the snap the sweep lane opens immediately behind him. User the play side flow linebacker manually to string the run out and force the back to commit to a lane before the blockers get set. Against stacked fronts or run blitzes that key the sweep, this play gets shut down quickly since there are fewer blockers to handle extra defenders in the box. Look for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, that signals run support and means the cutback lane behind pulling blockers becomes the better answer than the sideline.
Usage Tips
Call this out of personnel groupings where the defense shows a light box, especially against nickel or dime looks that are worried about the trips side. Check pre-snap for extra defenders crashing down inside, if the box count is six or fewer this play has a much higher chance of springing a big gain. Use motion or a quick pre-snap look to see if linebackers flow hard to the trips side, which opens up the backside cutback lane on the sweep. Pair this with HB Mid Draw and Inside Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple run gap options and cannot key on outside flow every snap. Best used on early downs (first and ten or second and short) when defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts instead of loading up for pass rush.
