Playbooks
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Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Toss out of I Form Tight is an outside zone run play that tosses the ball to the HB in the backfield and gets him working horizontally to the edge before turning upfield. The blocking scheme pulls the FB and the playside guard to lead block on the perimeter while the offensive line reach blocks to seal the edge, so the primary read is the FB kick out block on the force defender followed by the guard leading through the alley. This is a pure run play with no play-action or RPO element, designed to attack overaggressive fronts and outrun defenders who crash inside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the playside defensive end and outside linebacker alignment pre-snap, since a wide nine technique or an OLB cheating outside signals the defense is sitting on the toss. Key the FB release out of the backfield, because if the user controls the FB and forces a bad block or blows it up in the backfield, the play dies immediately. Read linebacker flow after the snap, since fast flowing linebackers who beat the pulling guard to the alley will stop this play cold. Look for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, which indicates run support is loaded and the toss lane will be crowded. Beware of edge defenders staying home with contain discipline instead of crashing, as disciplined edge play against outside zone concepts is the biggest counter to this play.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and look for wide alignments or safeties cheating into the box, since a light edge with the corner playing off is the green light to call this play.
Use the FB Fake HB Toss from this same set as a counter after running HB Toss a few times to freeze linebackers who start flowing hard to the toss side.
Hot route the TE to a quick chip or seal block if you see extra defenders showing blitz off the edge before the snap.
Avoid calling this into a heavy nine man box or a defense that has shown edge contain discipline, since fast flow linebackers and disciplined ends can blow this up before it develops.
Pair this with HB Off Tackle and HB Counter to keep the defense guessing on run direction, since all three plays start with similar backfield action but attack different lanes.
