Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Off Tackle out of Singleback Ace with 12 personnel is a pure run play designed to hit the edge of the offensive tackle rather than the true perimeter. The diagram shows the HB starting behind the QB and cutting to the right B or C gap off tackle, with the offensive line and both TEs sealing down to create a crease just outside the tackle. There is no route concept or pass option shown here, this is a straight downhill gap run where the primary read progression is playside gap first, then bounce outside if the edge defender gets sealed or cut inside if the alley fills fast.
Defensive Reads
Watch the playside defensive end or OLB pre-snap, if he is lined up wide or crashing hard down the line this run has a natural bounce lane outside. Key the strong side linebacker depth, a linebacker sitting tight to the line signals a run blitz or gap plug that can blow this play up before the TEs seal the edge. Check for 8 man fronts or run commit defenses, this play struggles badly against stacked boxes since there is no pass option to punish extra defenders. Look for user controlled defenders flowing hard downhill immediately after the snap, aggressive user pursuit to the playside gap means the cutback lane behind the TE block will be wide open. Favorable looks include 2 high shells with base personnel and light boxes, while unfavorable looks include heavy run blitz packages, 8 in the box looks, and defenses that key TE blocking assignments with an extra linebacker.
Usage Tips
Use HB Off Tackle when the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders in the run fit, especially against 2 high safety shells that pull a linebacker into coverage. Motion a TE or use pre-snap shifts to identify if the defense is playing man or zone run fit, if the edge defender crashes hard down the run is designed to bounce outside for a big gain. Pair this with HB Dive and HB Stretch in the same drive to keep linebackers guessing on gap versus perimeter runs, then hit HB Counter or HB Misdirection once they start flowing hard to the play side. This play works best on early downs, first and second and short to medium distance, when you want to stay ahead of the count and set up play-action shots later. Against aggressive nano blitz packages, check the playside DE or OLB pre-snap, if he is showing a wide alignment consider hot routing a TE to chip or audibling to HB Stretch instead.
