Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Misdirection Lead lines up out of Singleback Bunch TE with the HB offset behind the QB, showing a run action that pulls the flow one direction before the ball carrier cuts back against the grain. The offensive line executes a down block scheme up front while the lead blocker works through the hole to clear space for the misdirection cutback, and the two bunch receivers to the left simply stem vertically off the snap to occupy the corners and safety rather than run a designed route combo. This is a pure run play built to gash defenses that flow hard with the initial fake, so the primary read is the backside cutback lane, checking the lead blocker's kick out or wham block before deciding whether to bounce it outside or stick it up in the B gap.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the linebackers are shaded toward the misdirection flow side, since that tells you the cutback lane will be wide open if they bite. Key the defensive ends and edge players first, if they stay disciplined and do not crash toward the flow fake, the cutback has nowhere to go. Watch the lead blocker's path after the snap, his block target usually reveals which gap the play is designed to hit once the cut happens. Against a stacked box or a defense that shows run blitz pre-snap with linebackers creeping to the line, this play can get blown up quickly since there is no answer built into the design against interior penetration. Look for user-controlled linebackers spying the backfield instead of flowing with the fake, since a disciplined spy defender is the biggest threat to killing the cutback before it develops.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so defenses are not keyed in on obvious run situations and will bite on the misdirection flow.
Watch linebacker depth and flow before the snap, if you see aggressive downhill linebackers or a Cover 1 or Cover 3 shell with heavy run support to the play side fake, this play is designed to punish that over pursuit.
User the lead blocker briefly after the snap to make sure he locates the correct force defender or edge defender before releasing control back to reading the cutback lane.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Zone Fake Jet earlier in a drive so defenders start keying the misdirection action, then hit them with this play once they start flowing hard to jet sweep or zone fakes.
Avoid calling this against defenses that stay disciplined with two deep safeties and light box counts, since there is less cutback room when the defense stays home instead of flowing.
