Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
End Around out of Shotgun Bunch is a pure run play designed to get an outside receiver the ball on a reverse-style handoff to attack the edge. Off the snap the bunch receivers crash down to seal the perimeter while the motion man takes the handoff and cuts back across the formation toward the opposite flank, using the wall of blockers to turn the corner. This is a gap-attacking misdirection run rather than a man or zone beater, so the primary read is simply hitting the edge fast before backside pursuit closes the alley.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap, if they are crashing hard down the line on every snap they are vulnerable to this misdirection. Watch for a fast flowing Mike linebacker who flies to the ball on run keys, disciplined defenses will have him stay home and spy the reverse action. User the backside contain defender manually and have him sit outside the frame instead of chasing initial flow, this single user is often the difference maker against End Around. Look for defenses in nickel or dime packages with speed on the edge, they close the alley quickly and shut this run down before it develops. Check for a scraping linebacker or safety filling the alley post snap, if the defense trains this look they will consistently blow up the play in the backfield.
Usage Tips
Call this play when the defense has shown aggressive downhill flow to inside zone or HB Base on previous snaps so the misdirection actually freezes linebackers.
Watch the play side edge defender pre-snap, if he is crashing hard on run keys the cutback lane behind the bunch wall will be wide open.
Use this on early downs in run heavy sequences to set up Reverse and Fake Reverse later in the drive since defenders will start jumping outside run flow.
Avoid calling End Around against defenses stacked with fast edge defenders who play disciplined contain, since the extra ball handling time can get eaten up.
Pair this with HB Sweep and Counter Y in your call sheet so the defense cannot key on the direction of your outside run action.
