Playbooks

HB Swing

Shotgun·Trips·10

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips

Personnel

101 RB · 0 TE · 4 WR

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

HB Swing out of Shotgun Trips is a check down and screen hybrid built around getting the running back out to the flat with immediate leverage against pursuit. The offensive line sets up a light pass protection look while the trips side occupies the underneath defenders and clears space for the swing route, making this a zone beater that punishes teams sitting in soft zone shells with slow linebacker flow. The primary read is the HB out of the backfield first, then progressing to the shortest trips receiver working the flat or curl area if the swing is taken away by a spying linebacker.

Defensive Reads

Identify the flat defender pre snap, if a cornerback or safety is sitting in the flat zone with outside contain, the swing route has nowhere to go and gets squeezed immediately. Watch for a spy or scrape linebacker who stays home on the running back instead of blitzing, this is the number one play killer since he can jump the swing route the instant the HB releases. Zone coverages with soft underneath drops like Cover 3 sink or Cover 4 that leave the flat vacated are the easiest shells to exploit with this concept. Man coverage with an inside linebacker matched on the HB is the toughest look to beat, since he has a shorter angle to the flat than the running back does. Post snap, key the near side outside linebacker's first two steps, if he widens instead of blitzing or dropping deep, the throwing window closes fast and you should reset to the backside hot route instead.

Usage Tips

Use this play on third and short or second and medium when defenses expect a pass downfield and sell out on the trips side. Check the pre snap alignment of the weak side linebacker or nickel defender, if he is sitting deep or blitzing off the edge the swing lane opens up immediately. Hot route the backside single receiver into a quick slant or drag to give yourself a second cheap option if the defense rolls coverage toward the swing side. Pair this with RPO Base Alert Bubble or RPO Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenders honest, since both plays sell similar flow to the flat and force linebackers to hesitate. Avoid calling this against aggressive man press packages unless you motion the HB pre snap to get a clean release, since man defenders can trail the swing route and blow it up before it develops.