Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Toss Fk Reverse out of Singleback Wing Close is a trick run play designed to look like a standard toss to the flow side before handing off on the reverse action back the other way. The diagram shows the offensive line and TE fanning out to seal the edge on the toss flow while the play-side receiver comes back across the formation to take the handoff and cut upfield behind that blocking. The lone route shown is a vertical release from the backside receiver, which acts as a decoy to pull defenders and safeties away from the reverse lane. Primary read progression is not a passing read at all: this is a pure gap-scheme run read where the ball carrier keys the edge blocks and the reverse crease, so pursuit angle and misdirection sell are the entire concept.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a defensive end or contain player who stays home instead of crashing on the toss action, since disciplined edge defenders are the primary counter to this reverse. Check linebacker depth and flow speed pre-snap: fast-flowing linebackers who overcommit to the toss side get gashed when the ball comes back. Identify if the defense is playing a scrape exchange call, where the backside end or linebacker specifically stays back to defend reverse action, because that shuts this play down completely. Look for user-controlled defenders spying the backfield or sitting in the flat on the backside, as a smart human opponent will often key the reverse after seeing it once on tape. Man coverage with aggressive safety rotation to the toss side actually opens more room since the safety vacates the reverse lane, while zone shells with disciplined backside contain are the toughest matchup for this call.
Usage Tips
Run this only after you have established the HB Toss or HB Zone Toss earlier in the drive so linebackers are already flowing hard to the play side and bite on the fake. Watch pre-snap for overaggressive linebacker flow or a defense that shows heavy run blitz toward the strength, since that flow is exactly what the reverse exploits. Call this on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when defenses are keying run tendencies from your gameplan and are less likely to sit back in contain discipline. Use the vertical release receiver as a true decoy, do not force a look there, let it hold the deep safety while your reverse man works the edge. Sequence this play with HB Dive and Duo out of the same set so defenses see consistent inside run action and stop respecting outside contain, then hit them with the reverse for an explosive gain.
