Playbooks
Fake Fg Kicker Toss is a trick run play out of the Field Goal Special formation that catches defenses sleeping on field goal personnel by tossing the ball directly to the kicker on a sweep action. The blocking scheme relies on the holder and long snapper releasing to lead block while the offensive line executes down blocks to seal the interior, creating a lane on the edge. This is a designed run play, not a pass concept, so the primary read is simply identifying which defender is unblocked at the point of attack and setting up your track behind the lead blockers to the sideline.
Watch the offensive alignment for any hesitation or unusual spacing among the interior linemen, since a legitimate field goal snap has a consistent rhythm that a fake often disrupts. Key the holder and long snapper immediately after the snap: if they release upfield instead of setting up to block the kick, you are looking at the toss fake and need to redirect outside. Keep your edge rushers disciplined rather than selling out on a block attempt, since teams that flow every defender straight ahead get gashed on the perimeter toss. Spy the kicker with a defender who does not have a direct rushing lane, particularly a jammed gunner or backside contain player, because he is the only ball carrier on this play. Shut this down entirely by having your special teams unit maintain outside leverage and never letting both edges collapse inward on the projected kick block.
Only call this when the defense shows a standard field goal block look with no safeties creeping down to respect the fake, since any extra defender near the line of scrimmage kills the numbers advantage. Check the edge defender assignment before the snap: if the defensive end or block-team gunner is crashing hard down the middle to block the kick, that is your green light to attack the perimeter. Use this in short yardage or garbage time situations inside your own territory is risky, so save it for midfield fourth down attempts or as a momentum-shifting call when your opponent is not respecting the fake. Sequence this after you have run one or two legitimate field goal attempts earlier in the game so your opponent's muscle memory tells them to rush the kick rather than scan for the toss. Pair it in your playbook alongside Fake Fg Holder Blast and Fake Fg K Direct Snap so opponents cannot key on one specific fake and start jumping the snap count.