Playbooks
FB Toss is an outside run play out of the Flexbone Normal set that gets the fullback the ball on an edge toss action, using the option formation's natural misdirection to attack the perimeter before the defense can flow. The offensive line and slot backs execute a reach and seal blocking scheme, kicking out the edge defender while the playside slot back leads through the alley for the fullback. This is a pure run play, not a play-action or RPO, and the primary read progression is the fullback pressing the toss to the sideline and reading the kickout block first, then working off the lead blocker's path to find the crease between the alley defender and the sideline.
Watch for a walked up strong safety or extra defender on the edge presnap, since that signals the defense is keying the toss and will try to blow up the kickout block immediately. Check linebacker depth before the snap, if the Sam or Will linebacker is sitting shallow and squared to the line they are likely reading run fast and will flow hard to the toss. Man coverage shells with the corner playing tight to the line can still get beat if the alley blocker connects, but zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with disciplined force players tend to shut this down by staying home on the edge. User-controlled defenders flying downhill from depth are the biggest threat to this play, so if you see a user jumping the toss lane presell before the snap, consider hitting the audible on a play like FB Dive or Midline Read Iso instead. A crashing defensive end or edge rusher who ignores the option fake and squeezes hard down the line can also blow this up before the fullback gets outside, so respect aggressive edge defenders on early downs.
Call FB Toss when the defense is showing a light box or has widened their linebackers to respect the Flexbone's option game, since that opens the alley for the toss to hit fast. Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the strong safety and outside linebacker alignment to confirm they are not sitting on the edge, because heavy edge defenders and a fast flowing Sam linebacker can blow this up before the kickout block sets. Pair this play with Inside Veer Triple Opt and Midline Triple in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the dive and the edge, which slows down linebacker flow and makes FB Toss hit even harder. On early downs with a light box count, hot route the playside slot back to adjust his release angle if the defense is showing an overhang defender crashing down hard. Save this for first and second down situations where you want to stay ahead of the chains, since the outside track can lose yardage against fast-flowing defenses if the blocks do not connect immediately.