Football Library · Plays
Buck Sweep· 11v11 Tackle
The play the whole Wing-T is built on. The QB reverse-pivots and puts a deep fake in the fullback's belly as the fullback dives into the playside A/B gap — that is the 'buck'. The ball goes instead to the HALFBACK, who has taken a deep path behind the line toward strength. Playside tight end and wingback block DOWN, sealing the interior. BOTH GUARDS PULL: the playside guard pulls first and kicks out the first defender outside the wing's block, the backside guard pulls second, stays tight, and turns up through the hole to lead on the linebacker. Center and backside tackle cut off pursuit. The ball-carrier presses the edge, reads the kick-out, and bounces outside a clean kick or cuts up if the end spills. Patient-then-fast: young halfbacks turn up too early and run into their own down blocks.
Coaching breakdown
Buck Sweep — The play the whole Wing-T is built on. The QB reverse-pivots and puts a deep fake in the fullback's belly as the fullback dives into the playside A/B gap — that is the 'buck'. The ball goes instead to the HALFBACK, who has taken a deep path behind the line toward strength. Playside tight end and wingback block DOWN, sealing the interior. BOTH GUARDS PULL: the playside guard pulls first and kicks out the first defender outside the wing's block, the backside guard pulls second, stays tight, and turns up through the hole to lead on the linebacker. Center and backside tackle cut off pursuit. The ball-carrier presses the edge, reads the kick-out, and bounces outside a clean kick or cuts up if the end spills. Patient-then-fast: young halfbacks turn up too early and run into their own down blocks. Run from Wing-T Right. The handoff sets up the play; see the OL + receiver bullets below for each player's job.
- @QB: take the handoff, press the LOS, and read the playside LB — if he scrapes, cut back; if he fills, bounce.
- : take the handoff, press the LOS, and read the playside LB — if he scrapes, cut back; if he fills, bounce.
- : sweep — wide path behind the pullers, set up the kick-out.
- : down block — drive your man INSIDE toward the playside gap, pin him so the pulling guard has a clean track.
- : down block — drive your man INSIDE toward the playside gap, pin him so the pulling guard has a clean track.
- : stalk-block the corner — get hands inside, drive him off coverage so the runner has the edge.
- : down block — drive your man INSIDE toward the playside gap, pin him so the pulling guard has a clean track.
- : pull playside — kick out the first defender outside the tackle box.
- : reach block playside — drive your man down the line, seal him inside.
- : pull playside — get depth off the LOS, lead through the hole for the back.
- : cut off the backside — chase block to prevent pursuit.
Ball flow:
- Snap: @QB hands to 2 yards right of center, 5 yards behind the LOS.
When to call it
Your base call. Run it both directions early to make the defense declare how it fits the edge — everything else in the series is sold off this picture, so it needs to be on film before the trap and the waggle mean anything.
Common mistakes
- Fullback fakes the dive at half speed; no linebacker moves and the whole series dies.
- Guards pull deep and wide instead of flat and tight — they arrive late and the back loses the race to the edge.
- Halfback turns up before the contain defender commits, running into his own down blocks.
- Wing treats his down block as a shove; that block is the wall the play runs behind.