Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Reverse out of Shotgun Bunch has the bunch receiver closest to the formation running the initial handoff motion across the backfield while the outside bunch receiver loops around to take the reverse handoff and cut back to the far side. The line and TE fire out to seal the edge and open a cutback lane away from initial flow, making this a pure misdirection run play designed to punish overaggressive run fits. The primary read is simply handing the ball off to the reversing receiver and letting the blocking up front and backside pursuit angles create the crease, so there is no route progression to read, it lives and dies on selling the fake and hitting the cutback lane.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check if the defense is stacking the box or showing run blitz tendencies to the strong side, since overcommitted fronts are exactly what this play is designed to punish. Post snap, keep a spy or backside linebacker home instead of flowing hard with the initial motion, since disciplined backside pursuit is the single biggest counter to reverse action. User the backside defensive end or outside linebacker and have him hold his gap rather than crash upfield, forcing the ball carrier to bounce it outside into traffic. Watch cornerback and safety alignment on the play side, since a corner who stays home on the reversing receiver instead of biting on run action can string the play out for a loss. If you see the offense has run inside zone or HB sweep multiple times from this same bunch look, anticipate the reverse call and rotate a defender to sit on the edge before the snap.
Usage Tips
Only call this out of tendencies you have already established with inside zone or HB sweep so linebackers and edge defenders are flowing hard to the strong side before you counter them.
Watch for user defenders spying the backfield or crashing down immediately at the snap, since a disciplined defender who sits on the reverse action will blow this up for a loss.
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when the defense has shown aggressive run blitz tendencies or has been keying strong side flow all series.
Pair it in a sequence with Fake Reverse and End Around from this same set so the defense cannot key on ball direction based on your presnap motion or formation tendency.
Avoid this play against defenses that consistently show contain and backside pursuit discipline, since a patient defensive end or backside linebacker crashing down late is the biggest threat to blow this up.
