Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Sweep out of Shotgun U Off Trips is a pure run play with the HB aligned offset to the backfield and the trips receivers to one side clearing out space for edge blocking. The offensive line and both TEs execute a sweep blocking scheme, pulling to lead the HB around the edge while the backside blockers wall off pursuit. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read is the HB bouncing outside behind his lead blockers, reading the edge defender and safety flow before deciding whether to bend it back inside or take it to the numbers.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they stay disciplined and hold the edge the sweep has nowhere to go. Watch strong safety alignment pre-snap, a safety cheating down into the box signals run support that can beat the sweep to the sideline. User the edge defender or a linebacker with contain responsibility to force the HB back inside into pursuit. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with fast flowing linebackers close down the sweep lane quickly, look for outside linebackers flowing hard to the play side. A defense in man coverage with blitzing linebackers can be exposed if the edge isn't sealed, but disciplined zone defenses with contain rules shut this run down.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap to confirm you have numbers on the edge, sweeps struggle against heavy 4-3 fronts with fast flowing linebackers.
If the defense shows an overloaded box or a run blitz off the edge, consider hot routing a trips receiver on a quick screen or bubble as a bailout option.
Use this play on early downs, first and second and short to medium yardage, when you want to establish tempo and set up play action later in the drive.
Pair HB Sweep with Jet Sweep and PA Jet Sweep from the same set to keep defenders guessing on perimeter run fits and force overpursuit.
Once the defense starts crashing hard to stop the sweep, counter with Read Option or Counter Y from this set to attack the backside cutback lane.
