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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Toss Strong is a perimeter run play out of Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel that gets the ball to the outside quickly with lead blockers stretching the edge before the defense can flow. The blocking scheme pulls the strong side tackle and uses the TE and wing blocker to seal the edge, creating a bounce or wide alley for the HB to plant and go. This is a pure run play with no play-action component, and the primary read progression starts with the edge defender's leverage, then bounces to the alley created by the pulling linemen, then cuts back inside if the edge is sealed but the alley is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch the strong side defensive end and outside linebacker leverage before the snap, if they are lined up wide and crashing down the line the toss can bounce outside for a big gain. Key the flow of the linebackers at the snap, disciplined linebackers who stay square and read the pulling linemen will fill the alley and limit this run to a short gain. Look for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, an extra defender near the line of scrimmage is the biggest indicator this play gets shut down before it develops. Identify user-controlled defenders flying to the flow side immediately after the snap, aggressive user pursuit can be baited into overrunning the play if the HB shows a hard cutback read. Check for edge blitzes or contain-and-crash defensive ends, a well timed edge blitz can beat the pulling blocker to the spot and force the HB to cut back into traffic where the defense has numbers.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs when the defense shows a light box or a single high safety look, since extra defenders near the line will beat the toss to the edge before your blockers get set.
Check the strong side edge defender pre-snap, if he is crashing hard down the line on every snap this is the perfect counter play because your lead blockers can seal him inside and spring the cutback lane.
Pair HB Toss Strong with HB Power O and Off Tackle from this same set so the defense has to respect both the wide toss action and the tighter gap runs, keeping linebackers honest and slowing their flow to the sideline.
Avoid calling this into a stacked box or against defenses that show heavy blitz packages off the edge, since the play needs time to develop and a fast edge rusher can blow it up before the seal is set.
Use motion or shift the TE pre-snap to identify if the defense is in man or zone, then commit to bouncing outside against zone or setting up a cutback against aggressive man defenders flowing hard to the flow side.
