Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Pin Pull Toss is a pin and pull power run out of Shotgun Bunch Str Offset with 11 personnel. The offensive line pins down on the backside while the play side linemen pull and lead through the alley, with the HB taking the toss and reading the pullers to decide between bounce, bang, or cutback lanes. This is a run play designed to attack the edge with numbers, not a man or zone beater since it does not rely on route concepts, and the primary read progression is the HB reading the first puller (kickout block) and then the second puller (lead block) to find the crease.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a fast flowing linebacker who reads pull blocks quickly and beats the puller to the point of attack, that is a sign to bounce this play back inside on the next call. Overloaded run fits with an extra defender crashing the edge from the slot or safety position will blow up the pullers before they reach the alley. User controlled defensive ends who stay home and do not crash the pullers can string the play out, look to cut it back if you see the backside defender staying wide. Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with aggressive edge defenders are the toughest fits against this play since the extra run support fills the alley quickly. Man coverage with off ball linebackers who bite hard on the pull action can be exploited by setting up a play-action shot off the same look on a later down.
Usage Tips
Use this against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the pullers need room to work in space.
Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep or rotated away from the play side edge you have a numbers advantage on the perimeter.
Motion or shift out of the bunch to force the defense to declare their coverage shell and confirm if it is man or zone before the snap.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Duo in the same set to keep defenders honest between inside and outside run threats without changing your formation tendencies.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when defenses are more likely to play base run fits instead of loading the box.
