DIAGRAM: This is a great play to disguise running to the outside zone or running a stretch play.
This play is part of a number system for formations that most coaches use. The formation shown is a Right 4. The strength of the formation is to the right and the No. 4 tells the fullback or the halfback where to align. The opposite formation would be a Left 3.
In this play, you fake running the stretch and hand the ball to the wingback on the right side of the formation. All the blocking rules are the same as per a counter trey play. Once the defense gets running to stop the stretch, this play opens up big-time on the backside.
To run the play, the quarterback sprints as if running the stretch play and slips the ball the the WB coming back inside. The QB continues to fake the running of the stretch as he fakes handing the ball to the tailback. The TB sprints as if running the outsize zone play. The QB then bootlegs away from the play. A shovel pass could be used to get the ball to the wingback but a handoff is much safer.
The WB turns inside and looks for the ball from the QB. He picks up the linemen pulling and runs to daylight.
The blocking schemes for the linemen are the same as if running an outside stretch zone play. The front-side guard and tackle block down, sealing the defenders to the inside. The backside guard and tackle pull, reading the defense and blocking as if running the counter trey. The backside OG blocks the last defender on the line. The backside OT and the WB run off the OG’s block.
—Nick McGrain, Head Football Coach,
Shawnee Mission North High School,
Overland Park, Kan.