Football Library · Plays
Buck Trap· 11v11 Tackle
The inside complement to the buck sweep, run off an identical first move. The QB reverse-pivots the same way and the halfback runs the same sweep path — but this time the SWEEP is the fake and the FULLBACK keeps the ball on a dive into the middle. Playside linemen block down, deliberately leaving the first defender past the center UNBLOCKED, and the backside guard pulls to TRAP him from the side: the defender thinks he is free, takes a step upfield, and gets hit from an angle he never saw. Call it the moment the tackles or linebackers start flowing to the sweep — if the sweep got 6 yards twice and then got strung out, this is the next call. It is also the best short-yardage play in the offense because it hits before the defense can move.
Coaching breakdown
Buck Trap — The inside complement to the buck sweep, run off an identical first move. The QB reverse-pivots the same way and the halfback runs the same sweep path — but this time the SWEEP is the fake and the FULLBACK keeps the ball on a dive into the middle. Playside linemen block down, deliberately leaving the first defender past the center UNBLOCKED, and the backside guard pulls to TRAP him from the side: the defender thinks he is free, takes a step upfield, and gets hit from an angle he never saw. Call it the moment the tackles or linebackers start flowing to the sweep — if the sweep got 6 yards twice and then got strung out, this is the next call. It is also the best short-yardage play in the offense because it hits before the defense can move. 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.
- : trap — press into the hole, the trap block opens it late.
- : take the handoff, press the LOS, and read the playside LB — if he scrapes, cut back; if he fills, bounce.
- : 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.
- : 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.
- : pull flat across the formation and TRAP the first defender past the center — hit his near hip from the side. Stay flat; chasing him upfield is how this block misses.
- : cut off the backside — chase block to prevent pursuit.
Ball flow:
- Snap: @QB hands to 3 yards behind the LOS.
When to call it
Right after the sweep has been over-pursued, and on short yardage. The tighter the front squeezes to stop the sweep, the better this hits.
Common mistakes
- Trapping guard chases the defender upfield instead of staying flat and hitting his near hip.
- Fullback aims at a pre-decided hole instead of running at the trap block and cutting off it.
- Halfback jogs the sweep fake, so the linebackers never leave the middle.