Shut your trap!

COACHES WHO HAVE HAD success running the halfback lead series know that it doesn't take long for the defense to begin overplaying the weak or strong set formation (Diags. 1-2). The defense will key the halfback and start to shift and slant to his side, or else assign a "spy" to him to gain a numerical advantage at the POA.

[Diagrams 1-2 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

When defenses start to shift and slant to stop the lead play, we will exploit them with a Cross Trap by routing our lead halfback away from the backfield strength and the defensive shift or slant.

As shown in Diag. 3, the play begins as the lead series play, with the fullback aiming for our tackle's inside hip (away from the POA) to fill for the guard who's pulling to trap block.

[Diagram 3 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The halfback takes a jab step forward with his outside foot, then crosses behind the path of the vacating fullback. After receiving an inside hand-off from the QB, who has reversed out from the center, the halfback looks for the downfield hip of the pulling guard as his landmark.

The play's chances for success can be greatly enhanced through a variety of blocking schemes vs different fronts. An influence trap scheme has been most effective when running the Cross Trap from the weak or strong set (Diag. 4).