Playbooks

Buck Sweep Behind

Shotgun·Doubles Offset Wk·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense Sharedcoach1Offense

Breakdown

Buck Sweep Behind is a gap scheme run play out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that pulls the backside guard (and often the fullback or offset blocker) around to lead through the edge while the playside line blocks down. This is a run play, not a pass concept, and it is designed to hit off tackle or bounce outside depending on how the edge defender and flowing linebackers react. The primary read progression is the pulling guard's kick out block on the edge defender, then the running back reading the alley for the second-level linebacker fit before deciding to press downhill or bounce it outside.

Defensive Reads

Identify the alignment of the edge defender pre-snap, if he is crashing hard down inside he is vulnerable to the kick out block and this play can bounce outside easily. Check linebacker depth and gap responsibility, stacked or blitzing linebackers can beat the pulling guard to the point of attack and blow this up for a loss. Look for safety rotation post-snap, if a safety is filling downhill fast off the edge that usually signals run support or a lurk defender assigned to the perimeter. Watch for defensive line slants or shifted fronts, a slant toward the play side can clog the pulling lane and force the back to cut back immediately. This run beats base 4-3 and 3-4 fronts with light boxes, but it struggles against heavy run blitz packages, nano blitzes from the edge, or defenses stacked with extra linebackers in the box.

Usage Tips

Run this against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, especially when the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap indicating they are not selling out to stop the run.

Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if the linebackers are stacked tight to the line they can beat the pulling guard to the edge, so consider bouncing to a bubble or peek RPO instead on that down.

Use motion or an offset alignment check to identify if the defense is shifting the front, since a sliding front can clog the pulling lane and force a cutback read.

Pair this with RPO Buck Sweep Peek in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the gap run action and the perimeter throw off the same look, keeping linebackers honest.

Best used on early downs, first and second and short to medium yardage, when defenses are more likely to play base fronts rather than dime or nickel packages built to stop the pass.

Avoid calling this into heavy blitz shows from the linebacker level, since fast flowing blitzers can beat the pulling guard before the kick out block is set.

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