How to install Buck Sweep

So, let’s install the Buck Sweep again.

Now, be prepared…this email is going to be a little longer. In fact, you might even want to take some notes.

Let’s take a detailed approach to installing the Buck Sweep play:

Here are the position by position rules for running Buck Sweep to the TE side:

• TE: Gap-down-LB
• PST: Gap-down-LB
• PSG: Deep pull (back, back, flat). Kickout 1st man past Wing.
• C: On-Away-Reach
• BSG: Pull. Track ILB. Stop him if he is trying to run through the B-gap, otherwise wrap around the wing block and wall him off
• BST: Area-cross field kickout of DB on other side of the field
• SE: Cut off Free Safety
• HB: Sell Jet sweep. Square cut (do not round) into hole. Should be able to touch the backside pulling guard’s back
• FB: Dive for backside foot of C. Veer off midline.
• WING: Block first free man inside. Must stay on block.

How to Execute the Buck Sweep Play

1. TE and tackle must understand that they must “stay on their path” when down blocking. Don’t chase! There will be someone inside that they can get a body on.
2. The wingback can cheat up if necessary but come hard! Don’t worry about missing the defender. If he steps around you… let him go! The pulling guard will pick him up. But… if you make contact, you must keep contact and ride him. The worst thing you can do is to hesitate and let that DE/OLB get penetration.If it’s an even front defense and the man over/shaded on the TE “disappears” inside as you start down, you must stay on your path just like we tell the TE and tackle and block the next free man inside (probably the LB).
3. The playside guard must get depth on his first 2 pull steps and then “level off on the 3rd step. From the 1st step, he needs to get his eyes on the tail of the wingback so he can focus on his target. He starts down-hill on his 4th step and wants to get an inside-out angle on the 1st defender outside the wing’s block to kick him out. Be prepared to meet force with force and run your feet to move that guy out of there!
4. The center must step to play side and at least “help” with a defensive tackle over our guard… until the tackle arrives for his down block. Use you hand if you need to but protect the a gap. There may be a LB blitz into the play side a gap that you will have to stop! If no threat to a gap, then turn back and pick up any “trash” trying to run through over top of you or your back side a gaps.
5. The fullback must be a “faker/blocker”. Your fake of the trap must hold the LBs! Then as you roll over an imaginary ball, you have to fill the backside a gap and stop anyone trying to run through…. Especially an even front defensive tackle over our backside pulling guard. They will try to “hip pocket” the guard as he pulls towards the hole. You must stop him by driving him to the outside away from the hole! This is a critical block that must be emphasized.
6. As the backside guard pulls, you must begin to “eye” the LBs. As you pull down the line, get a little depth from the line so you can clean any trash along your path. As you see the front side guard kick out, you turn up inside of that block and look to “wall off” pursuit from the backside LB. *this is a critical block. You will blow open the hole by clearing out the RB’s “tunnel.” This block can be practiced in “perfect play/Buck Sweep drill” in practice. The play does not count unless this guard finds a bag and makes contact.
7. The backside tackle must take a hard gap step and don’t let anyone penetrate that B gap. Then move up to LB depth and begin to sprint across the field. There will be a defensive back who will show up. Optimally, we’d like him to kick out the corner support or the safety who may be filling the alley. Keep running so the running back can cut off of you.
8. The halfback is the ball carrier on Buck Sweep (121/929). You cross over and run through the heels of the fullback moving close to full speed and receive the hand-off from the QB. You want to “attack” the flank with that speed to force the defense to over-pursue. While you are running across the formation, your eyes should be on your backside pulling guard. Stay parallel to the line… don’t run downhill! Keep some depth between you and your guards. As you see the backside guard start to turn up in the hole, you decelerate by “cleaning your cleats” and make a sharp 90 degree cut into the hole. You are now running for what we can the “tunnel.” We tell our HB’s: get us 4 yards and the rest is yours!” So he has to turn this play up inside.It does no good to bounce it outside because there is no blocking out there! Turn it up into the “tunnel.” Get the 4 yards by blasting through the hole and explode out the other end. When you see daylight, make a cut and go!
9. The quarterback’s job is to ensure a good hand-off and then sprint to the line and not slow down until you cross it outside the tackle’s position while faking waggle! Step back on the mid-line and continue on the mid-line to hand off to the HB crossing the formation. Make sure your hand-off is only elbow length and “sink” the ball deep into the HB’s pocket. Then sprint!
10. The SE (WR) needs to push off the line for 2–3 steps and then sprint for center field. Your job is to try to cut off the free safety. If the play breaks, you will have the key downfield block that will turn a good gain into a TD! Hustle!

This play requires a lot of repetitions to get the timing and execution down right.

But trust me when I tell you that if you ask any Wing T coach if it’s worth it, they’ll give you a 90 minute dissertation defense on the beauty of the play!