The Inner Workings Of A Football Play: Open Left YAC 28 Toss Crack

While still enjoyable to watch, the vocabulary and intricacies of the game of football remain a mystery to many of its biggest fans. As a football coach, I'd like to do my part to help break down some of the barriers to an understanding of football.

Here is one of my team's plays, detailing the purpose of each of the words in the playcall: Open Left YAC 28 Toss Crack.

Open Left

This is the formation, which calls for "10" personnel, or 1 running back, 0 tight ends and 4 wide receivers. The "Left" portion of the formation dictates that the Y and Z receivers are positioned on the left side of the ball, while the A/X pair is opposite.

Although typically a passing formation, we still use run plays out of "Open" formations to keep the defense honest. If we are able to outflank an unaware defense, big gains are possible.

YAC

This is a call for motion, designated by the squiggly line above. Before the snap, the "Y" receiver will come in motion "ACross" the formation, hence YAC = Y ACross.

Pre-snap motion allows us to switch the strength of our formation without giving the defense much time to adjust their responsibilities. In this case, the "Y" should be just outside the right tackle when the ball is snapped.

28

This one number indicates what five players are going to do. The offensive line has to listen to the "8" portion, which tells them where the running back is going to go.

Consider "0" to be running straight ahead, with 2, 4, 6, 8 being on the right side of the ball and 1, 3, 5, 7 being on the left."8" is our number when the running back runs to the right sideline, stretching it far to the outside.

Offensive linemen with a man across from them step with their right foot and try to control the outside shoulder of the defensive player. Linemen that are uncovered help their teammates and then "climb" to block linebackers. The backside end and cornerback are unblocked as they should be far away from the play.

Toss

This indicates to the quarterback and running back how the ball will be delivered. The quarterback (Q) will turn to his left after catching the snap, building up momentum and tossing the ball with two hands to the running back.

The back (B) will take one depth step backwards his right foot, before turning his head around, stepping to the right and receiving the ball.

Crack

Crack is a blocking term that dictates what the "Y", "A" and "X" receiver will do. While the running back, "Y" and offensive line are moving to the right, the "A" and "X" will go back against the grain and execute a "Crack" block.

The linebacker and safety on the offense's right will be flowing that way and the crack black will come as a surprise to the defensive players. The cornerback will follow the "X" receiver inside only to be met by the "Y" receiver coming to kick him out.

Two receivers blocking in and one blocking out should create an alley for the running back to slide through.

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If you have any questions about the play, don't hesitate to ask!