Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Reverse out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk is a misdirection run play designed to attack pursuit flow and overaggressive linebackers. The initial ballcarrier takes a step one way before handing off to the receiver coming back across the formation, and the offensive line flows in the direction of the fake to sell the run action. The primary read is the frontside edge, if defensive flow bites hard on the initial fake, cut the reverse man upfield immediately once he clears the handoff point.
Defensive Reads
Key the backside defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap, disciplined edge players who maintain contain are the biggest threat to this play. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield instead of flowing with the fake, that lurk player can diagnose the reverse and blow it up in the backfield. This play beats aggressive run blitzes and defenses in a nine or eight man box that overpursue the initial fake direction. Base and Cover 3 shells with disciplined linebackers who stay square to the line of scrimmage limit the reverse to minimal gains. Post-snap, track whether the backside safety or corner is squeezing down on the run action, if they stay wide the reverse gets cut off before reaching the edge.
Usage Tips
Call this play against aggressive run fits or defenses that key hard on HB Base and Inside Zone, since the misdirection punishes downhill linebackers.
Save this for second and short or first and ten situations where the defense expects a straightforward run and sells out to stop it.
Sequence Reverse after running HB Base, Inside Zone, or Outside Zone earlier in the game so the defense over pursues the same direction on tape.
Watch the frontside contain defender before the snap, if the defensive end or outside linebacker crashes hard, the reverse has a clean lane to the sideline.
Avoid calling this against disciplined defenses that stay home on backside contain, since a patient edge defender can blow this play up for a loss.
