Playbooks
H Power Toss out of Singleback Bunch Base 21 personnel is a gap scheme run play that tosses the ball to the H-back edge with a lead blocker sealing the alley. The offensive line pulls to build a wall to the play side while the fullback or second back leads through the hole, creating a numbers advantage on the perimeter. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read is the frontside alley defender: if the lead blocker seals him inside, plant and get vertical outside; if the alley defender wins outside, cut it up inside the pulling linemen.
Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker before the snap; if they are shaded wide with outside contain responsibility, the toss can get squeezed for a loss. Watch for a fast flowing Mike linebacker who reads toss action quickly, since scrape exchange calls and inside linebacker run blitzes are the biggest threat to this concept. If the safety rotates down into the box pre-snap, that usually signals extra run support and you should expect the edge to be manned up tighter, killing the bounce lane. Post-snap, identify whether the user is controlling an outside linebacker or safety to jump the pitch, since a smart user defender can bait the quarterback into a bad toss read and blow it up for a loss. Cover 3 and Cover 1 looks with aggressive safety run support tend to shut this down, while light boxes out of Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells with only six in the box are where this toss hits for explosive yardage.
Run this out of Bunch Base when the defense shows a light box (six or fewer defenders) since the bunch alignment forces conflict for the defense on run fits versus the tight formation.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if linebackers flow before the snap, which tips run blitz or scrape exchange looks that can beat outside toss concepts.
Pair H Power Toss with HB Counter and PA Ctr Waggle from this same set so the defense has to respect both misdirection and an outside perimeter run, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their fits.
Best called on early downs (first and ten or second and short) when you want positive yardage without exposing the play to a heavy pass rush.
Against aggressive edge defenders who crash hard to string plays out, mix in End Around Lead as a changeup since both plays attack the same width but with opposite blocking angles.