Asweep is an outside runningplay inAmerican football where arunning back takes apitch orhandoff from thequarterback and starts running parallel to theline of scrimmage, allowing for theoffensive linemen andfullback to get in front of him to block defenders before he turns upfield. The play is run further outside than anoff tackle play. Variants of the sweep involve the quarterback or awide receiver running with the ball, rather than a running back. When a wide receiver runs with the ball, it is known as a jet sweep.
Atoss sweep is a play that is usually run out of theI formation orsingle set back formation. In recent years, it has also been run out of thepistol formation.[1] The quarterback takes the snap, reverses out, then tosses the ball to thetailback. When run from the I formation, it allows thefullback to pick up any defenders who have penetrated into the backfield. Blocking from the offensive line ranges from straight zone blocking to pulling the playside guard. While this sweep does not have as many playfake combinations as the buck sweep, it tends to be more powerful and allows the running back to turn upfield faster.
The buck sweep is usually run from aWing T formation that includes a variety of play fakes. The quarterback takes the snap and fakes trap to the fullback. He then hands off to a halfback orwingback, who runs to the outside. The buck sweep is normally blocked by pulling the playside guard to kickout the force defender, and the backside guard pulling and turning up on the playsidedlinebacker. This allows for the other linemen to downblock on the other defenders, giving the offense an advantage when it comes to blocking angles. The buck sweep also provides an advantage in the possibilities available from its action, with the fullback trap before the sweep, a "waggle" pass,[2] orbootleg after it, and the sweep itself.
Vince Lombardi, head coach of theGreen Bay Packers, was fond of the sweep.[3][4] In the 1960s, he utilized the Packers sweep play—also known as theLombardi sweep—in which guardsJerry Kramer andFuzzy Thurston rapidly pulled out from their normal positions and led blocking for the running back (typicallyPaul Hornung orJim Taylor) going around theend. It was an integral part of an offense that won five NFL titles in seven years.[5]
Also known as thejet sweep orfly sweep,[6] this sweep is a running play that is run from a set with awide receiver (flanker) split out to the side away from the play, often run with the receiver inmotion. The quarterback receives the snap and turns or runs toward the receiver, as the receiver makes a deep arc into the backfield behind the quarterback, where there is an exchange either by handoff or by pitching the ball to the receiver. This play typically resemblesStudent Body Right, in that every available blocker blocks to the playside. The variant that became popular in theNational Football League (NFL) in 2018 is often run with the quarterback in ashotgun formation and the receiver crossing in front of him to receive the ball; when run in this manner using a pitch, the pitch is considered aforward pass, resulting in anincomplete pass rather than afumble if the ball is dropped.[7]
The quarterback sweep is a running play where the quarterback takes the snap fromcenter, typically in a shotgun formation, and then runs to the outside. This play can best be run by a fast, athletic quarterback. Sweeps often involve pulling of offensive linemen, usually one or bothguards, to provide extra blockers at the point of attack.[8] Teams such as theArkansas Razorbacks have had success running this play by lining up the halfback as the quarterback in awildcat formation.