Playbooks
HB Slash Fk End Ard
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slash Fk End Ard is a run-action misdirection play out of Singleback Bunch that dresses up the HB Slash concept with a fake end around look to hold the edge defenders. The line shows an inside zone blocking scheme while the fake end around action to the bunch side pulls flow away from the actual ball carrier path, giving the HB a cutback lane between the tackles. This is not a pass concept or RPO, it is a gap scheme run play, and the primary read progression for the ball carrier is inside hole first, then bounce outside if the frontside gets clogged by an extra run fitter.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap. If they are crashing hard on jet or end around motion tendencies, this play will gash them because the fake pulls them out of the run lane. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap. If he steps up quickly to fill the fake action, that opens the cutback lane for the actual HB Slash hole. Man coverage on the bunch receivers, especially with a safety cheating toward the fake motion side, indicates the defense is honoring the misdirection and leaving light numbers in the box. Stacked fronts or defenses running a scrape exchange technique on the edge are the counter to this play, since the exchange defender stays home on the fake and forces the ball carrier into a clogged interior. User-controlled defenders flowing hard to the fake end around side are the biggest tell this play is working. If the user stays home and reads the mesh point, look for the defense to blow this play up at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Usage Tips
Use this against defenses that are keying run fits hard to the strong side, since the fake end around action pulls linebackers and edge defenders out of position before the handoff hits.
Check the box count pre-snap: if you see 7 or more in the box, this play still works because the misdirection neutralizes an extra defender for a beat, but be ready to check to a pass if it is an obvious all-out blitz look.
Hot route or motion the bunch receivers pre-snap to bait the defense into showing man or zone coverage rotation, which tells you whether the edge defender will bite on the fake end around.
Pair this with HB Slash and End Around from the same set so the defense cannot key on the fake versus the real thing, forcing linebackers to freeze on every snap.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when defenses are more likely to sell out on standard run fits rather than playing disciplined assignment football.
