Playbooks

HB Pump Draw

Shotgun·U Off Trips Wk·12

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetU Off Trips Wk

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

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Breakdown

HB Pump Draw is a delayed run concept out of Shotgun in the U Off Trips Wk set, designed to freeze aggressive linebackers and blitzers with a quarterback pump fake before handing off to the HB on a draw action. The blocking scheme relies on the offensive line selling pass protection for a beat before releasing into run blocking lanes, which creates natural cutback lanes when defenders bite on the fake. This is a run play at its core, not a pass or RPO, so the primary read is the interior gap that opens up between the guards, with a secondary read to bounce outside if the defensive tackles get sealed to one side.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he flows hard toward the pump fake action or steps up into a phantom rush lane, that confirms the interior cutback lane is available. Check safety alignment pre-snap, single high shells with the free safety sitting deep tend to leave more room underneath for the draw to develop since the second level is thinner. Beware defenses that use a spy or a delayed contain rusher who stays home and reads the backfield, since these looks kill draw plays by not biting on the pump action. Look for blitz packages sending extra defenders through the A and B gaps, if the blitz timing is delayed rather than immediate, the draw can actually hit the gap right as blitzers vacate. Post-snap, track any user-controlled linebacker or lurk defender staying square in the box, an experienced human defender who does not commit to the fake will close the cutback lane quickly and force a negative play.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs after you have shown the same Trips Wk formation on a few dropback or play-action passes so the defense is conditioned to drop into coverage or rush the passer hard.

Best used on second and short to medium distance when defenses are more likely to sit in their base look or bring a delayed blitz instead of stacking the box for run.

If you see linebackers creeping toward the line pre-snap in an obvious run blitz alignment, consider audibling out since the pump fake loses value against defenders already keyed on the backfield.

Pair this with Inside Zone and Outside Zone earlier in a drive to establish tendencies, then mix in HB Pump Draw to punish linebackers who start flowing hard on run reads.

Combine with RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble in the same set so the defense has to respect both a quick perimeter throw and a delayed inside run from the identical presnap look.