Playbooks
Fake Fg H Shovel is a trick play out of the Special field goal formation designed to catch opposing defenses sleeping on personnel and alignment. Instead of the kick, the holder pivots and shovels a quick pass to the H back releasing into the flat behind a wall of blockers, functioning as a designed run/pass hybrid rather than a true dropback concept. The primary read is simply confirming the H back is uncovered and has a running lane, since the shovel pass is a pre-determined throw rather than a progression through multiple routes.
Watch for the defense sending a jailbreak or all-out block attempt off the edge, since aggressive rushers vacate the shovel lane and make this play nearly impossible to stop. Check if any defender stays home on the H back or shows outside contain discipline instead of rushing the kick, that alignment is the biggest tell the fake has been diagnosed. Look at linebacker depth pre-snap, if they are lined up unusually tight or shaded toward the formation strength it suggests the CPU or user opponent has scouted the fake. Post-snap, identify whether a user-controlled defender peels off the rush to lurk in the shovel area, since a smart user can jump this route and blow up the entire concept for a loss. If the defense consistently sends a full block rush with no contain, this play beats it every time, but against a disciplined edge-set defense with a spy or contain defender, abandon the fake and take the actual field goal.
Only call this when the defense shows a standard field goal block look with no obvious fake awareness, ideally when your opponent has been susceptible to fakes earlier in the game or in a previous franchise session.
Use this on manageable third or fourth down distances inside the 40 yard line where a defense expects a kick attempt and relaxes its edge discipline.
Mix this into your play-calling sequence alongside Fake Fg Holder Blast and Fake Fg Holder Power so opponents cannot key on the ball going to one specific fake option every time you line up in field goal formation.
Snap the ball quickly after your formation set to reduce the defense's window to diagnose the fake and rotate extra defenders to the edge.
Once the shovel is caught, immediately follow the lead blocker path and cut off his block rather than trying to freelance outside, since the blocking scheme is built for a north-south crease.