Playbooks

HB Sweep

Shotgun·Trips·10
SweepRun Play
Play diagram for HB Sweep from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffenseRun And Shoot OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

Breakdown

HB Sweep out of Shotgun Trips is a pure run play with the HB taking a lateral handoff and stretching the play to the edge behind the offensive line's outside zone blocking scheme. The diagram shows the HB starting behind the QB and bubbling toward the play side sideline while the line flows in unison to seal the edge, with the trips receivers and TE running off their defenders to clear space. This is a numbers and edge speed run, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, so the primary read is the frontside edge: track your lead blockers, decide whether to bounce outside the sweep or cut back if the edge is sealed too far upfield.

Defensive Reads

Watch for defensive ends and edge rushers that are gap sound versus contain, since a disciplined edge defender who stays home can blow up the sweep before it turns the corner. Identify if the defense is running a run blitz or crash call from the linebackers, this play can gash overaggressive fronts that shoot inside gaps and vacate the edge. Key the play side cornerback's leverage, if he is playing outside contain or sits deep in a zone shell the sweep has less room to bounce and may need to cut back inside. Look for user controlled defenders flowing hard to the sideline, a smart defensive player can rally to the edge and force a cutback, so be ready to read the backside cutback lane. Beware of stacked fronts and inside linebackers with tight run fits, disciplined defenses that maintain gap integrity and keep a spy on the edge will limit this play's explosiveness.

Usage Tips

Use HB Sweep on early downs when the defense shows a heavy box or committed run blitz look, since the edge speed can outrun overpursuing linebackers.

Check the alignment of the play side cornerback and slot corner pre-snap, if they are sitting on the flat or crashing hard on run action you can motion or hot route a receiver into a quick screen instead.

Pair this play with HB Slip Screen and RPO Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenders honest, since the sweep action sells the same outside flow before you counter with a screen or bubble read.

Against fast flow linebackers, be patient and let the blocking develop before committing to the sideline, a premature user run outside can get strung out for a loss.

Use in short yardage or 2nd and short to punish defenses that stack the box expecting inside zone, since the edge speed of the sweep hits before extra defenders can rotate over.

Other Plays in Trips