Playbooks
Wide Trap is a gap scheme run play out of Shotgun Wing Trips WK that uses trap blocking to sell outside flow before cutting back inside on a puller. The offensive line down blocks to one side while a puller kicks out or traps the first threat off the edge, creating a natural crease for the ball carrier through the B or C gap. This is a run play, not a pass concept, so the primary read progression starts with the HB reading the trap block and playing off the puller's path, then working through the designated cutback lane if the initial hole is clogged.
Read the linebacker depth pre-snap, stacked linebackers who are shallow and aggressive will crash the trap block and blow up the play. Wide Trap beats one gap fronts and aggressive four three under fronts because the trap block on the first down lineman creates an easy seal. Check for a shaded nose or three technique on the play side, if the defense is in an odd front with a heavy shade toward the trap, the puller may whiff and the play dies at the line. Watch for user controlled defenders flying downhill from depth, a linebacker who reads trap action quickly and fills the cutback lane can erase the gain before the ball carrier gets to the second level. This run struggles against gap sound fronts and disciplined defenders who stay home on double team blocks, so avoid calling it into heavy blitz packages that stack extra bodies into the box.
Use Wide Trap on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage to keep defenses honest against your pass-heavy calls out of Wing Trips WK.
Check the box count pre-snap and look for light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the tackle box before snapping this run.
Pair Wide Trap with Power Read and PA Inverted Veer from the same set so the defense has to respect both the trap action and the option keys off similar formation looks.
If the defense shows an overloaded front or a linebacker crashing hard to the play side, hot route the HB to bounce or use your user controlled lead blocker to seal the alley defender manually.
Sequence this play after a few dropback passes like Stick or Four Verticals from the same set so linebackers sit back in coverage and give you a lighter box for the trap scheme.