Playbooks
Breakdown
Motion Zone Toss is a zone run play out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel that uses jet or fly motion across the formation before the snap to force the defense to declare its assignment. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, flowing in unison to the play side to seal running lanes, while the HB takes the toss and reads the leverage of the blockers to pick his gap. This is a run play built on misdirection and numbers, with the primary read being the play side edge and second level flow of the linebackers as the HB presses the line and cuts back if the defense overpursues.
Defensive Reads
Key the motion man before the snap, if a linebacker or safety travels with him it signals man coverage and confirms the toss has a numbers advantage to the play side. Watch the defensive line alignment, a shaded nose or 4i technique can clog the play side gap and force a cutback read from the HB. Identify overhang defenders and force players on the edge, since aggressive fast flow linebackers who crash the toss can be gashed on the cutback lane. This run struggles against gap exchange or scrape exchange linebacker stunts designed specifically to counter toss and jet action, so avoid calling it against defenses that have shown that look. Cover 3 sky or cover 1 robber shells with an extra hat in the box will squeeze the toss lane, so check to a play-action pass from this same set if you see that pre-snap rotation.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone coverage, if a defender runs with the motion man you know you are facing man principles and the toss still hits because it is a numbers run away from the defense's leverage.
Call this on early downs like first and ten or second and medium when you want to stay ahead of the chains and keep the defense honest against your play-action shots.
Pair this with PA Boot Corner Post or PA Slide Y Screen from the same Deuce Close set since both start with identical formation and motion, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits.
If the defense stacks the box with extra defenders after seeing the motion, check to a play like PA Deep Cross or Flood Trail to attack the vacated coverage behind the blitz.
Watch the backside end and force defender at the snap, if they crash hard down the line, user your HB to bounce the toss outside for an explosive gain.
