Complimentary Play Call: 18 (Rocket Toss)
When to Call it: The coach must call 18/19 when the inside linebackers are blitzing the inside gaps (A or B) on our base 12/13 triple option play. What the defense is trying to do is create extreme pressure on the QB’s reading progression. By sending more players into the line of scrimmage, the defense is hoping to frustrate the QB into either making the wrong read, or simply panic to the extent of mishandling the ball.
Why use Rocket Toss? Rocket toss is called in this instance so that we can get the ball out on the perimeter “NOW”. There is no QB read or any extra bells or whistles during this play. It is simply the QB tossing the ball to the motioning A-back who then will look for daylight on the edge. Diagram 2 shows Rocket Toss in its entirety. Notice that the entire O-line not having to block a single D-lineman! How can this be? By having the motioning A-back already past the butt of the B-back at the snap of the ball, by the time the defense can even react to this play, the A-back will be receiving the pitch in the play side B-gap. Thus, this eliminates the need to block any D-lineman as they will have no time to react appropriately to this play. We now have one of our best athletes (A-back) running full speed to the periphery of the defense. We will have superior numbers at the point of attack along with eliminating eight potential tacklers without even having to block them (unless they are able to adjust to some extent).
Result of using Rocket Toss: after gauging the defense for big yardage using 18/19, they will back off to some extent and get back to playing a sound, basic defense. At this point, we would get back to our 12/13 triple base play.