A&M tuns toss sweep differently from how NFL teams typically run it. Many teams run toss sweep as a way to attack the outside of the defense, A&M ran it last season as a way to incorporate their speed option play into the offense without putting the QB at risk. Toss sweep is an integral play that goes back to the invention of football, however A&M ran it as a complementary play in their scheme.
Play Concept
If basic geometry tells you the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, self-preservation tells you to avoid running in a straight line into the big guys in the middle of the field. If you’re trying to advance the ball down the field and the big guys up front prevent you from running in a straight line, the most logical approach is to toss the ball to the fastest guy on your team and let him beat the big guys to the outside. Hit the outside and then run in a straight line, that is the basics of toss sweep.
Here the play is run from 11 personnel to the boundary side of the field. Field receiver is aligned on the field hash and boundary receiver is outside the numbers. Boundary slot is inside the numbers and TE is in-line off the line of scrimmage. RB is aligned to the right of the QB in the shotgun.
Field receiver pushes vertical and stalk blocks. Boundary receiver pushes vertical and stalk blocks. The offensive line is blocking inside zone but to the field, leaving the SDE unblocked. LT blocks WDE. LG and C combo zone 3-tech. RG and RT double 1-tech. In theory the TE should arc block to the MLB to seal him inside. Boundary slot blocks safety and seals him outside. SDE is left unblocked like in speed option but there is no read, QB just tosses the ball to the RB sweeping outside. Toss sweep in this format is option without the option. RB takes the ball and sweeps to the boundary, running into the tunnel created by the block of the TE and boundary slot.
Executing Toss Sweep
A&M ran toss sweep on a first and ten from the Auburn 36 yard line. Zach Calzada is in shotgun, Isaiah Spiller is aligned next to him. DeMond Demas is the boundary receiver and Ainias Smith is the slot receiver. Jalen Preston is the field receiver. Jalen Wydermyer is the TE aligned to the boundary.
At the snap, Preston shows vertical and stalk blocks the CB. Demas pushes vertical and stalk blocks the boundary corner. LT Jahmir Johnson easily fan blocks the WDE. LG Kenyon Green seals the 3-tech outside. C Bryce Foster helps on 3-tech and tries to go second level. MLB reads inside-out and flows to boundary. RG Layden Robinson takes a hand to the face but blocks the 1-tech. RT Reuben Fatheree finishes the 1-tech but stays on him too long.
TE Wydermyer should arc block the PSLB but he sees the WLB aligned on Smith flow inside. Wydermyer decides to block the LB which means Smith needs to switch and take the PSLB. Smith decides to take on the SDE instead. Wydermyer’s block on WLB and Smith’s block on WDE create a small tunnel for Spiller to run through. Problem is PSLB is unblocked and he and SS come downfield to make the tackle. Result of the play is a 2 yard gain.
Toss sweep is an effective play to hit the edge of the defense but you need to block it correctly. If the defense puts a LB on a slot receiver, you need to switch assignments seamlessly to ensure success of the play.