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 Right: the inside answer, off the exact same first move as the sweep. @QB reverse-pivots identically, runs the full sweep track with NOTHING IN HIS HANDS, and keeps the ball on a dive into the middle. The playside line blocks down and deliberately leaves the first defender past the center UNBLOCKED — the backside guard pulls flat and TRAPS him from the side. He thinks he is free, steps upfield, and gets hit from an angle he never saw. runs AT the trap block and cuts off it; don't give him a hole number. Call this the moment the tackles or linebackers start flowing to the sweep, and on short yardage — it hits before the defense can move.
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.