Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Ace WR Stretch is an outside zone run play out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel, with the HB taking a stretch path behind the QB toward the play side edge. The offensive line flows laterally to seal the edge on outside zone tracks, while the two TEs release vertically as run support decoys that hold the second level and can peel into routes if defenders sell out on the run fake. The primary read progression is the HB pressing the line, reading the edge defender and playside TE block first, then bending back inside off the first wrong-arm or overpursuit before working through the cutback lanes created by the zone-blocking flow.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a stacked front with linebackers creeping to the line pre-snap, since that signals a run blitz designed to beat outside zone before it stretches. Key the playside defensive end and outside linebacker: if they stay disciplined and maintain outside leverage, the cutback lane inside becomes your best answer. Identify single-high safety looks versus two-high shells, since a single-high safety often means the defense is selling out to stop the run and you should expect quick flow to the play side. User-controlled defenders flying downhill to the mesh point are the biggest threat, so look to bounce the run outside if a user linebacker overcommits to the interior gap. Zone-heavy defenses with linebackers sitting in shallow drops tend to overpursue on outside zone action, so trust the cutback if you see backside pursuit angles collapse too fast.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs in normal personnel counts to keep the defense honest against your play-action shots from the same formation.
Check the box count pre-snap: if the defense has six or more in the box, consider audibling to a quick pass instead of forcing the stretch into a loaded front.
Use your TEs' vertical releases to bait linebackers up, then let the HB press wide and cut off the first color that flashes to create a natural cutback lane.
Pair this with PA Stretch, PA Roll Rt, or PA Boot Roll from the same look so the defense cannot key run versus pass off your Ace formation tendencies.
Against aggressive edge defenders who crash hard, hot route your playside TE to a quick chip and release to slow down contain and buy the HB extra time to bend it back.
