Families

RUNNING GAME “FAMILIES”

•The easiest way to learn the running game is to understand that all of our runs basically
fall into one of 4 “families,” or “schemes,” or basic ways we assign people to block!
•These basic families are: “Gap,” “Trap,” “Reach,” and “Base.” If you know which of
these families a play falls into, you have a pretty good idea how we’re going to get
defenders blocked!
•In GAP family plays, frontside blockers block back one “Gap,” looking for the opportunity to
double team combo on defensive linemen back to linebackers. We will pull one or two blockers
from the backside to kick out and/or lead through the hole frontside.
•46-47 Counter, and16-17 Trey, with its “H,” “Bob,” and “Special,” variations are our “Gap” plays
•In TRAP family plays, we leave the 1st frontside DL to be trapped by the BS pulling Guard.
Frontside blockers block their inside gap up to the nearest LB, avoiding the man to be trapped.
•32-33 Slant Trap are our “Trap” plays
•In REACH family plays, all linemen “reach” one gap to their frontside, looking to “Reach and
Overtake” a down lineman in front of him, or “Reach, Rip, and Run” on a wide railroad track to
intersect a flowing linebacker.
•44-45 Stretch, 28-29 Jet, and 48-49 Toss are our “Reach” plays
•On BASE blocked plays, linemen drive block the lineman or linebacker over them. It is
generally a “man on man” scheme. Sometimes, we will bypass a frontside LB or DL within this
scheme, either leaving him to be optioned or blocked by the H-Back…the lineman whose normal
man falls into this category blocks back one LB, potentially using a “Slam and Slide” on his way.
•12-13 Draw, 20-21 & 22-23 Blast, and 25-26 Lead are ”Base” plays.
•Two of our plays combine different parts from different families within one play:
•18-19 Speed uses Base components on the frontside, and Reach rules on the backside.
•14-15 Casino uses Base and Gap components.

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2001 Offense:
Running Game