Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Toss out of the I Form Close is a pure outside run play designed to get the HB the edge quickly with a full head of steam. The diagram shows the offensive line pulling and stretching to the play side while the fullback leads through the hole to seal the alignment, with the HB tossed the ball and immediately attacking the perimeter. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, so the primary read is the edge: bounce outside if the defense flows hard inside, or cut upfield off the FB's block if the edge is sealed.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, since shallow linebackers who crash down on run fits can be sealed easily by the FB lead block. Identify if the defense is in a run-stopping front with extra defenders in the box, since HB Toss struggles against gap-sound fronts with disciplined edge defenders. Key the play side defensive end or OLB post-snap, since a hard crash inside opens the alley for the HB to bounce outside. User-controlled defenders who stay home on the edge and force the ball back inside can blow this play up, especially in Cover 2 or Cover 3 run support looks. Look for overpursuit from the second level defenders on outside zone or stretch tendencies, since HB Toss can cut back if the defense keys too hard on lateral flow.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and confirm the edge defender count before the snap, since this play lives or dies on numbers to the play side.
Use HB Toss against fronts stacked to stop inside runs like Inside Zone or Power O, since it hits away from heavy interior fronts.
Motion the FB or use a jet motion look from this same personnel to freeze linebackers before snapping HB Toss.
Pair this play with HB Zone Toss and HB Stretch in the same drive to keep defenders guessing on outside run direction without changing your presnap look.
Save HB Toss for early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) since a blown edge block can result in a negative or minimal gain against disciplined defenses.
