Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
94 Will out of Weak I (Slot Close, 21 personnel) is a power run play that pulls the play-side guard to lead through the off tackle hole while the fullback kicks out or leads into the alley. The diagram shows the HB aligned deep behind the QB taking a downhill angle toward the play-side B gap, with the offensive line covering down for down blocks and a puller creating a lane. This is not a pass concept, there are no route combos shown, so the primary read progression for the HB is to press the hole, read the puller's block, and cut off the down blocks based on how the front reacts.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the strong safety has rotated down into the box, which signals run support toward the play side and can clog the off tackle lane. Watch the play-side defensive end and outside linebacker alignment. A wide 9 technique or scraping OLB can blow up the pulling guard's kick out block. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's flow. If he reads pull and fills fast, the cutback lane behind the puller opens up. User-controlled defenders flying downhill from a Mike or Sam linebacker position are the biggest threat to this play, since they can shoot the gap before the puller arrives. This play is countered hard by gap-exchange run blitzes and stacked fronts (like a 4-3 Under with a run blitz called), so avoid calling it into a clear run blitz look shown by walked-up linebackers.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and medium) when you have already shown Slot Close pass plays to keep defenses honest.
Pre-snap, check the box count. If the defense has 7 or more in the box, consider audibling to Mesh or PA Boot Slide to punish the extra defenders.
Use the fullback lead block as your primary blocking key. If the defense stacks the play-side edge with a 9 tech or crashing DE, this play struggles, so have Inside Zone Split ready as a change-up.
Sequence 94 Will early in a series to set up PA Flood or PA Boot Slide later, since both play-action concepts sell off this same downhill run action.
Against aggressive linebackers who fast-flow to the run, let the HB press the hole longer to bait the backside pursuit before cutting back.
