Playbooks

HB Mid Zone

Singleback·Y Trips·11
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

In 3 playbooks

Sim Screenrunblend Ba OffenseOffenseSim Screenrunblend Ph OffenseOffenseSim Screenrunblend Rn OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Mid Zone is a zone run scheme out of Singleback Y Trips that sends the offensive line flowing laterally to create a natural cutback lane for the HB. The line combo blocks down the front side while the backside tackle and guard work to seal edge defenders, giving the HB a stretch look before he presses the hole and reads the mike linebacker's fit. This is a run play, not a pass concept, so the primary read progression is a one cut decision: press the frontside gap, and if the linebacker flows too hard, cut back through the vacated backside lane.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check linebacker depth. Stacked linebackers sitting tight to the line signal a run blitz that can blow up the frontside gap before the zone develops. Watch for a crashing defensive end or user controlled edge defender squeezing down hard, that is your cutback cue to bounce the run backside. Base 4-3 and 3-4 fronts with two deep safeties are the easiest shells to run against since there is no extra run support in the box. Cover 0 or heavy blitz packages with safeties creeping down pre-snap should scare you off this call, the extra defender in the box negates your blocking numbers. Post-snap, key the mike linebacker's first step. If he flows hard to the play side, the cutback lane opens instantly for a explosive gain.

Usage Tips

Run this out of a run heavy personnel look on early downs to keep defenses honest before you attack the same gap with PA Ctr Waggle or PA Power O off similar first step action.

Check the box count pre-snap. If the defense has six or more in the box, consider bailing to Bubble Screen or WR Screen to punish overloaded fronts.

Use the right stick to manually guide your HB through the mesh point since the CPU blocking logic will sometimes bounce it outside when a clean cutback lane is there.

This play works best on second and short or first and ten when you want positive yardage without exposing your line to a heavy blitz look.

Pair it in a sequence with HB Counter and HB Power O from the same set so linebackers cannot key run direction based on your play call tendencies.

Other Plays in Y Trips