Playbooks
FB Lead Toss Wk is a run play out of the Flexbone Trio Right formation that tosses the ball to the fullback while pulling a lead blocker to the weak side of the offensive line. This is a designated run play, not a pass or RPO, and it relies on gap scheme blocking with the fullback reading the lead blocker to determine his cutback lane. The primary read progression is the fullback keying the lead blocker's path off the weak edge, deciding whether to press the hole downhill or bounce it outside based on how the edge defender and second level linebackers flow to the toss action.
Watch the weak side defensive end and outside linebacker alignment pre-snap since a tight, aggressive edge presence can blow up the lead blocker before he reaches the second level. Key the middle linebacker's initial step after the snap, if he flows hard to the strength on toss action recognition, the cutback lane opens for the fullback. User the weak side linebacker or safety in run support if you are on defense, since this play lives or dies on whether that defender can shed the lead block and force the fullback back inside. Look for defenses in a 4-3 under or heavy overshift front, these shells are vulnerable to the weak side toss because they commit numbers to the strength. Read the safety depth pre-snap, if the weak side safety is playing downhill in run support rather than staying deep, expect him to be the primary tackler and plan your blocking angle accordingly.
Run this out of 20 personnel when you have shown base run looks earlier in the drive so the toss action still catches linebackers flowing hard to the strength of the formation.
Use pre-snap motion or a hot route check to confirm the defense has not shifted extra bodies to the weak side, since this play is designed to attack light fronts away from the strong side of the Flexbone alignment.
Best down and distance windows are first and second down, particularly in short yardage or when you need to establish tempo before mixing in FB Dive Wk or FB Zone Toss for misdirection.
Pair this play with FB Lead Toss Str earlier in a series so the defense has to respect both directions equally, then come back to the weak side toss when linebackers start over pursuing to the strength.
If the defense shows a stacked box pre-snap, check into Curl Flat or PA FB Dive to keep the defense honest before returning to the weak toss later.