Playbooks
Safe Man Right is a field goal block play built around man to man responsibility on every eligible blocker or rusher rather than sending a full house rush. Instead of stacking gaps for a block attempt, this call assigns your defenders to shadow specific FG unit personnel, prioritizing containment over penetration. The primary read progression starts with the edge defenders on the right side, who key the snap and long snapper timing before working to disrupt the kick path if a fake or run out develops.
Watch the holder pre-snap for an unusual stance or extra crouch, which often signals a fake field goal is coming. Key the long snapper's tempo, since a delayed or altered snap count frequently indicates a designed fake. Look at the FG unit personnel grouping for skill players lined up as gunners or wings who could release as eligible receivers on a fake. Post-snap, track the holder's hands and shoulders immediately, since a legitimate hold has quick, mechanical placement while a fake often shows hesitation or a pump motion. This play is neutral against pure kick attempts since it is not optimized to get penetration, but it excels at reading and reacting to fakes that beat the aggressive block schemes in Load Block Right and Base Block Right.
Use Safe Man Right when you suspect a fake field goal rather than a legitimate kick attempt, since the man coverage assignments protect against trick plays better than the block-heavy calls in this set. Check the FG unit personnel pre-snap for an extra skill player lined up as a potential eligible receiver, which is a common fake tell. Only call this on downs where surrendering three points is acceptable, since this play sacrifices raw block probability for safety against fakes. Pair this with Load Block Right and Base Block Right in your play-calling sequence so opponents cannot key your defensive intent based on formation alone. If your opponent has shown zero fake tendencies in the game, lean toward Load Block Right or Base Block Right instead, since Safe Man Right leaves fewer rushers attacking the kick itself.