Truck Toss

How Truck toss pairs with the Wide Zone to attack the perimeter.

As much as we’d all love to run Wide Zone every play, (at least I do), we are eventually going to need some other calls. I had a request to dive into “Truck” toss, or what I’ve also seen called “Crack” toss. Either way, this concept is a perfect complement to Wide Zone.

I’m a playbook minimalist, so I’m constantly trying to find ways to be as complex as possible without adding any burden to my players, especially the offensive line.

From Bill Mountjoy: Truck Toss in an old Washington playbook.

Truck toss allows you to attack the perimeter without changing much upfront. The line is all blocking Wide Zone, except the play side tackle. A tight end or condensed receiver will block down on the defensive end, and the tackle will pull to the perimeter, most of the time leading up to the corner.

One of the main ways defenses attack wide zone teams is by putting more guys on the line of scrimmage and setting a hard edge by their outside linebackers. This eliminates the double teams and forces the back to cut up quickly, often to an unblocked linebacker.

Truck toss can be a great way to counter this. The cracks create a wall, and often linebackers who are slower to react expecting a cutback, get caught up inside.

49ers 19 Truck

The 49ers are in a condensed 2x2 set. The tight end and receiver both crack, setting the edge. The tackle pulls, picking up the first threat outside. No one even blocks the Mike linebacker, but the down block of Kittle gets in his way enough that he can’t scrape over.

Trent Williams is 1 on 1 with a defensive back, what OC wouldn’t take that match-up all day?

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