Playbooks

HB Misdirection

Singleback·Doubles·11
MisdirectionRun Play
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

In 1 playbook

Fix OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Misdirection out of Singleback Doubles is a run play built to attack aggressive, flowing defenses by getting the offensive line and fullback flow to sell one direction before the ball carrier cuts back against the grain. The blocking scheme pulls linemen across the formation while the HB takes a counter step, forcing linebackers to commit to the initial flow before the misdirection hits the alley. This is a run play, not a play-action or RPO, and the primary read progression starts with the frontside linebacker flow, then moves to the cutback lane vacated by pursuing defenders, and finally to the backside safety fitting the run.

Defensive Reads

Read the Mike linebacker first. If he flows hard to the initial action side pre-contact, the cutback lane is open behind him. Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the backfield instead of reacting to the line flow. A disciplined user linebacker who stays home kills this play instantly. Check safety depth and alignment pre-snap. Two deep safeties who stay high and slow to fill run support give you a bigger window before the cutback defender arrives. Identify run blitzes or crashing defensive ends pre-snap. A blitz that shoots gaps quickly can beat the misdirection to the point of attack before the OL resets its angles. Post-snap, key the backside defensive end and outside linebacker. If they stay disciplined and do not chase the flow, they can string the run out and force a shorter gain than the cutback design intends.

Usage Tips

Call this play against defenses that show fast flow linebackers or aggressive run fits, since their downhill pursuit is exactly what the misdirection exploits.

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into jumping the snap, which widens the cutback lane even further.

Diagnose the front pre-snap: if you see a 4-3 Over or Under with linebackers stacked tight to the line, this play has a higher ceiling because those defenders flow fast and hard.

Pair this play with HB Dive, Inside Zone, or HB Power O earlier in a series so the defense keys downhill run action, then hit them with HB Misdirection to punish that habit.

Best called on early downs (first or second) in normal or run-heavy personnel counts, since defenses are more willing to sell out against inside run flow in those situations.

Avoid calling this against spread out nickel or dime looks with light boxes, since there are fewer flowing defenders to manipulate and the cutback lane will be clogged by numbers.

Other Plays in Doubles