The number of defenders on the side of the field you want to run to can sometimes tell you the play will not work well even before the snap. Too many defenders means someone will come unblocked and probably hit your HB for a loss. To prevent this, it is a good idea to get used to the idea of switching the direction of the running play and calling audibles to go up the gut or wide to the outside. I have my audibles set to HB Slam on a button and RB Stretch on another button. This allows me to audible to an inside or outside run to either side of the field if I want to.
Remember, to change the direction of the play, you move the right stick to the new direction you want the play to go. The interesting thing here is that flipping the direction of the run after the offense has come to the line of scrimmage and set will not cause the TE to go in motion. In this way, you can actually eliminate the need for an Iso Wk play.
Example 1: Run Away from Heavy Defense
Our called play is Iso right. Count the Hats - Play side we see a DT on the strong side shoulder of the C, a DE covering the OT, two LB, and the SS moving up into run support. That's 5 defenders on the strong side. What's the rule? Never run to the TE side if there are 5 defenders or more there.
Decision: Flip the play by moving the right stick to the left, changing it into an Iso Wk run to the left. Looking to the weak side, we see two down linemen, one LB, and one FS hanging a bit further back in deep coverage. We are 3 on 3 in the box and need to beat the safety for a long gain.
At the handoff, we see two things that are a bit important. First, we have four blockers in the interior taking on two defenders, so we are winning big there. Second, the linebacker behind those two linemen is dropping back into a hook zone and the safety is backpedaling into a deep zone. The center releases from the combo block and moves to the next level ready to lead the back through the hole.
The backpedaling zone players have now read the play and are changing direction to charge the run. Read the defenders that need to be beat - the LB and the FS are both to the left of the ballcarrier, but his blocker (the C #51 in the yellow box) is to his right. We need to get that blocker between the ball and the tacklers, so the HB must now cut inside of the path the C will take to the defenders.
Much better! The C takes out the LB, leaving us to try and beat the FS. Although the end of the run has two broken tackles, it still would have been a nice 8 or 9 yard gain even if the FS made the tackle.
Example 2: Run at Light Defense
Now let's consider what happens when you see a vulnerable alignment that can be exploited. One of the Maryland rules is to run to the SE side if there are only two defenders there. The following play call started out RB Stretch right:
There are four and a half defenders to the strong side where we have called the play, which is borderline acceptable, but look at the weak side. Two and a half defenders, with the LB playing very far back and our weak side OT has a great angle on the RDE if we are running to the outside. The line shift to the right and overshifted linebacker alignment puts heavy defensive emphasis on taking away the strong side, so we shall take what the defense is giving us.
Decision: Flip the play by moving the right stick to the left, changing it into a RB Stretch play to the left.
Look how open the field is. The weak side OG engages the RDE, allowing the LT to fire out and attack the WOLB. That seals off the entire box, leaving nothing but open field until the FS can move over for the tackle. Here's another angle to see just how wide open this is:
Example 3: Run Away from Heavy Defense
Here NC State brings up the SS into run support for an 8 man front. 5 of these defenders are on the strong side looking for the run. Our call is Iso right and will run right into the teeth of this defense:
Decision: Flip the play again, just like the first example against Florida State. We are now going Iso left to the weak side. In the video, watch the linebackers and SS labeled 3, 4, and 5 in the picture. All three are looking into the backfield, waiting for the run. Leaving the play as a run to the right would have been awful. Instead, we bounce it outside for an 11 yard gain and a first down.
