Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat HB Zone Wk is an inside zone run out of Singleback Bunch X Nasty with a weak side motion tag that shifts the backfield look right before the snap. The diagram shows the offensive line stepping in unison to the play side with the fullback/H-back cheating across the formation to seal the edge, while the running back reads the double team and cuts off the block flow. This is a zone run designed to attack the alley created by the motion, and the primary read is inside out: the back reads the double team block first, then bounces to the cheat block if the front stacks the box.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker depth before the snap, if he is sitting shallow and square to the line he is reading run fast and will beat the double team. Watch the safety rotation during motion, if a safety cheats down into the box the alley this run targets is likely sealed and the back will need to cut back. Identify if the defense is in a nano blitz look with an extra rusher crashing the play side gap, since that defeats the cheat block before it can seal the edge. Zone coverage shells with linebackers flowing hard to the ball can spill this run outside, so watch for lurk defenders sitting in the B gap post snap. Man coverage with linebackers locked on the fullback or slot defender tends to open the alley since fewer eyes are on the running back's initial path.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety over the top, which tells you whether the alley is open or if extra run support has rotated down.
Snap the ball right as the motion man reaches the backfield to keep the defense from adjusting their run fits in time.
Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short when the defense is likely in a base personnel package that can be outnumbered at the point of attack.
Pair this with PA Boot or PA Boot Slide from the same set since the motion look mirrors the run action and freezes linebackers who key run fits.
Avoid calling this into stacked box looks with extra defenders showing blitz on the play side since the cheat block alone will not account for a numbers disadvantage.
