Fullback Down Play

Fullback Down Play for Youth Football

The fullback down play is a very effective youth football play. It will only take a few minutes to install- it is very simple.  This formation features two wing backs (3) & (4), a fullback (2), a split-end (SE), a tight-end (TE) and a QB (1).

Center: Center will block head up defender. If the center has double A-gap defenders he will always block the back-side A-gap.

Right Guard: Always secure inside gap first. If there is no inside gap or head up defender, work onto a linebacker.

Right Tackle: Always secure inside gap first. If there is no inside gap or head up defender, work onto linebacker.

Left Guard: Always secure inside gap first. If there is no inside gap or head up defender, work onto a linebacker.

Left Tackle: Always secure inside gap first. If there is no inside gap or head up defender, work onto a linebacker.

Tight-end: Always secure inside gap first. If there is no inside gap or head up defender, work onto a linebacker.

Split-end: Run off CB or stalk block the CB. You can also have the (SE) block the middle safety.

1: Take snap, hand-off to the (2). It is important that the QB meets the (2) at the point of attack. The (2)’s aiming point is the gap between the tackle and tight-end. It is the QB’s job to meet the (2) at the point of attack. The running back cannot belly to the QB for the hand-off.  The QB must open up and move his feet because he does have some ground he has to cover to meet and hand the ball to the (2).

2: Aiming point is the gap between the tackle and the tight-end.  The Fullback cannot belly towards the QB. The (2) has to look to cut off of the (3)’s kick-out block.

3:  Full speed jet motion kick-out defensive-end or OLB (based on defense). The aiming point of the kick-out needs to be the inside hip of the defender he is kicking out. You really want the (3) to gut out the defensive-end.

4:  Lead through the hole, look to block a linebacker. You can also have the (4) execute the “hammer” block. Here is an excellent article on how to execute the “hammer” block.

There are a couple of different ways you can block on the fullback down play. Utilizing cross blocking is also very effective.

Play-side linemen block down and the play-side guard will kick-out the defensive-end.

You can also have a DOWN-KEEP play. Once the defensive-ends really start to slant or crash down to defend the fullback down play, you can have the QB keep it. This down keep is out of our heavy formation (unbalanced):

The QB will execute his down steps and instead of handing the ball to the (2), he will pull it and run outside around the (3)’s seal block. Many times good defenses will either blitz the C-gap (between the (T) & (TE)) or have the DE squeeze down to take on the (4)’s kick-out block.

Once the defense commits to stopping the down play,  hit them with the DOWN-KEEP.  We will usually have our (SE) crack the outside linebacker. If the outside backer blitzes or is blocked by the TE, teach your (SE) to work onto the middle safety instead. The motion player will lead block , instead of kicking out the DE. (4) will look to block the CB that was covering the (SE).

Key Coaching Points for the Fullback Down Play

• QB must come DOWN the line of scrimmage and meet the (2) and hand him the football.
• (2) should not belly towards QB to take the hand-off. It is the QB’s job to get to the running back and hand the ball off.
• (2) aiming point is between the TE and tackle. Many coaches will have the aiming point the outside hip of the offensive tackle.
• Motion player cannot go or lean forward until the ball is snapped.