Football Library · Plays

Draw· 5v5 Flag

intermediateaka RB Drawaka Lead Draw

Late-developing interior run that sells pass first — blockers sell pass, back hits the soft middle late.

The design

How Draw works

Late-developing interior run that sells pass first.
In tackle, the OL pass-sets to draw the rush upfield; receivers run vertical clears to widen coverage.
In flag, the rushers must already start behind the 7-yd rush line — the back times the run to attack as they commit upfield past the LOS, with receivers running clears to pull the underneath defenders deep.
QB drops back, then hands LATE to the back hitting the soft middle vacated by the rush.
Best on obvious passing downs against rush-heavy fronts.

Coach the details

: sell the run fake full speed on the drawn track; finish every rep as if you have the ball.
: draw — delay then accelerate — read the rush lane.
: 18-yard go — full-speed release, ball goes over the top.
: 18-yard go — full-speed release, ball goes over the top.
: 18-yard go — full-speed release, ball goes over the top.

Call sheet

Money downsBest on 3rd-and-long when the defense is in pass-rush mode — the rushers commit upfield and the back hits the hole they vacated.
Defensive lookEspecially deadly vs nickel/dime fronts with light boxes.
PressureSet the handoff timing from the rush: the back waits until the interior commits upfield, then hits the vacated crease.
Game planUse vertical releases to remove underneath defenders and let the center choose the cleanest interior lane.
Money downsOn 2nd-and-long, hand it earlier; on 3rd-and-long, sell the pass longer but keep the track north-south.

Pre-snap to post-snap

Best on 3rd-and-long when the defense is in pass-rush mode — the rushers commit upfield and the back hits the hole they vacated.
Especially deadly vs nickel/dime fronts with light boxes.
Use vertical releases to remove underneath defenders and let the center choose the cleanest interior lane.
In tackle, the OL pass-sets to draw the rush upfield; receivers run vertical clears to widen coverage.

Cover 0: Anything that develops slowly — pressure gets home first Better answers: Four Verticals, Mesh, Slant-Flat, Smash
Cover 1: Outside vertical shots — the free safety caps them over the top Better answers: Mesh, Drive, Smash, Y-Cross, Four Verticals, Levels
Cover 2: The flats — the corner squats and jumps anything quick outside Better answers: Smash, Four Verticals, Flood
Tampa 2: The deep middle — the Mike runs it, so a straight seam is contested (unlike base Cover 2) Better answers: Smash, Flood
Cover 3: Deep outside — the three-deep shell caps outside verticals Better answers: Curl-Flat, Slant-Flat, Smash, Flood, Four Verticals, Snag, Dagger, Stick
Cover 4: Deep shots — four deep defenders make it very hard to win over the top Better answers: Stick, Snag, Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Mesh

Troubleshooting

Avoid Draw against a patient rush that is reading the back, a heavy interior box that never vacates, or a down-and-distance where the delayed handoff cannot realistically reach the sticks.
It is a pass-rush constraint, not an answer to defenders already sitting in the run lane.
Blockers sell the pass too softly (tackle); rushers don't widen and the lane never opens.
Back leaves too early; should wait for the rushers to commit upfield past the LOS.
Receivers run shallow routes; should run vertical clears or 8-10 yd routes to pull coverage AWAY from the hole.