Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Wham is a power run play out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel that pulls a blocker across the formation to kick out the first defender past the line of scrimmage, allowing the HB to follow up through the resulting wham block. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down with double tight ends tight to the formation, while the HB takes a downhill path off tackle behind the pulling wham blocker. This is a run play designed to create a numbers advantage at the point of attack rather than a man or zone beater through the air, and the primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the wham block, then decide between bouncing outside or cutting up inside based on how the defensive end reacts to the kick out.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the defensive end or edge defender squeezing down too far inside, since that is exactly what the wham blocker is designed to kick out. Key the linebacker depth at the snap; linebackers sitting shallow near the line can beat the pulling blocker to the hole and blow up the play before the HB gets north and south. Man coverage shells with an extra run defender in the box, such as Cover 1 or Cover 0, are the toughest looks for this play since they add a spy or extra gap defender to the point of attack. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the play side pre-snap, since a disciplined backside linebacker can cut off the cutback lane if the ball carrier tries to bounce it outside. Zone coverages with light boxes, like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with only six in the box, are the most vulnerable shells since the wham block creates an easy numbers edge for the HB.
Usage Tips
Use HB Wham on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when you want to establish tempo without exposing the QB to unnecessary hits.
Check for stacked box alignments pre snap; if the defense has crashed extra defenders into the box, consider audibling to a different concept in the set like Inside Zone Split instead of forcing the wham block into a numbers disadvantage.
Identify the strongest edge defender before the snap, since the wham blocker is tasked with kicking him out, and a shaded or wide nine technique can disrupt the timing of the pull.
Pair HB Wham with play-action shots from the same set such as PA Boot Corner Post or PA Deep Cross to keep defenders honest on run fits after you have shown this look a few times.
Sequence HB Wham with Counter Y or Jet Sweep out of the same formation to stress edge defenders in multiple directions and keep the defense guessing on flow.
