BALANCED

PLAYBOOK
SY M B O L L E G E N D

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

The legend below, together with the play descriptions should re-
move any confusion about the diagrams. Also, I recommend read-
ing The Ultimate Strategy Guide while learning these plays. It can
be very helpful.
LEGEND
1. A jagged line at the beginning of the route means block and
then release. Usually this is for one or two counts.
2. A route with no arrow means stop.
3. A route with an arrow means continue in that direction
4. This symbol means block. Hold it for as long as you can.
5. A dashed line coming from the QB is a pitch or shuffle pass.
6. A dashed line like this from a receiver indicates pre-snap motion.

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 Backside Screen twin tight

zone

Backside Screen lures the defense off to the right side, then
the QB turns and tosses it back to the left blocker. The QB
should keep his eyes on one of the two right receivers until
he is ready to make the pass. This will draw the defense to
the right side of the field, and open up a running lane for
the ball carrier.

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Banana Split twin back

fake dive

man

Banana Split relies on a fake dive to the right, but more

importantly, on a good banana pattern. The banana route
is as follows: both receivers line up tight (literally shoulder-to-
shoulder). The inside receiver starts a step or two back from
the outside receiver. Both run a similar arc, but just as they
are rounding off, the inside man cuts hard to the outside.
The play should be wide open.

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 Bottle Rocket Under twins

zone

Bottle Rocket Under is a read on the deep right defender.

Throw to whichever twins receiver he does not cover. If he
tries to split the gap between the two, throw to the inside
man. If the middle defender drops back to help, throw to
the Center on a hitch.

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Center Delay R twins

zone

Center delay simply creates a hole for the Center after a

block. The Center MUST hold his block for 2 counts to clear
out the defenders. Then the QB should hit him as he releas-
es. If the middle defender jumps the Center’s route, hit the
left receiver on the slant fly.

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 Counter Single Back

zone

If your guys hold their blocks, this can be a very effective

play. Everyone except the left blocker should move first to
the right. The left blocker should start a little wider to en-
courage his rusher to go inside, and then pin him in as the
runner goes around them.

FlagFootballNinja.com 
Cut Cross twin tight

man

Cut Cross works great against a man defense. The QB’s

primary look is at the left wideout. He should cut back on a
hitch as the inside left twins receiver runs a flag pattern over
top. If that is covered, look to the Center on the slant fly up
the middle.

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 P/A Destructor twin back

fake

zone

On PA Destructor, the QB fakes the dive left and then boots

back around to the right. The right inside receiver motions
into a tight end position and then runs slightly in towards the
middle of the field. When he is as deep as the deepest de-
fenders, he breaks back to the right. The right defender will
suck up on the deep out, leaving the long ball wide open.
If the right defender plays the deep ball, hit the out.

FlagFootballNinja.com 
Fake Toss Deep Single Back

fake pitch

zone

On Fake Toss Deep, the QB gets the ball and turns like he is
going to quick pitch to the halfback. As soon as he fakes,
he looks up and hits the Center. If the Center is covered,
one of the other two deep men will be open. The right
wideout goes in motion before the snap.

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 HB GUT twin back

zone

This is a simple run up the middle. Both blockers kick out,

and the Center picks up the middle defender. It’s good for
5-15 yards every time. If the rushers line up inside, audible to
a different side or out of the play.

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Hay Stack twins

zone

Haystack should be one of your team’s staple plays. It

works best if each of the crossing patterns come within
inches of the Center streaking up the field. After the cross,
look to the inside right receiver . For added effect, have
the Center yell “I’m Open! I’m Open” while flying down the
field.

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 Ins & Outs twins

zone

Another good, consistent play to have. First look should be

the quick slants, then the outs.

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Mach 3 twin back

close shave

zone

Named after the razor because the pattern requires the

receivers to come within millimeters of each other. After
motion to the right, the halfback releases right, just beneath
the twins receivers as they cross. Hit him on the right.

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 Moflat twins

zone

Need a couple yards? Moflat is unstoppable for a short

yard gain. Send the left inside receiver in motion. While in
motion, he should run full speed. Snap the ball as he passes
the right blocker. He will bow across the line and then head
for the flat. The QB can roll out with him to deliver the ball
on the mark.

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 double tight
Mojab

zone

Like Moflat, this play sends a man in motion across the for-
mation, but that’s where the similarity ends. The left side
tight end is the key to this play. Motion draws attention to
the left, outside patterns. The tight end jabs in, and then
cuts back to the hole. The QB should hit him soon after he
cuts.

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 PA Jet Single Back

fake

zone

PA Jet clears the field for a medium gain up the middle.

The three streak routes clear the deep defenders, and the
QB should have an easy connection with the halfback. But
if any of the deep defenders bite on the fake, go long with
the ball.

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Post Curl twin tight

man

Against a tough man defense, the post curl is an excellent

weapon. The QB rolls out right and hits the right inside re-
ceiver as soon as he stops and curls.

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 QB Sneak twins

zone

The QB sneak is a necessary component of any good offen-

sive scheme. Use the Audible tips in the Ultimate Strategy
Guide to adjust the sneak from the line. If the blockers are
lined up wide, call “Monday” and sneak up the middle. If
they are shifted left, run outside to the right with a “Zoo”
call.

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Quick Hit twin back

zone

Send the right inside receiver in motion. The right blocker

will let his man go. The QB fakes the dive to the halfback
who picks up the right rusher. As soon as he makes the
fake, the QB should turn and hit the right blocker.

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 Quick Pitch twin back

zone

The Quick Pitch can get the necessary yards you need and
can set up some of the fake toss plays. It’s a straightforward
pitch and block play. The right blocker should line up out-
side and let his man come through inside. Then he should
pickup the middle defender.

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Slant Fly Middle twins

man/zone

Slant Fly Middle works best against a man defense, but can
also be effective against a zone. The reason this pattern is
so effective is that a defender (man or zone) has to change
coverage to move laterally with the quick slant. As soon as
the defender has adjusted, the receiver breaks deep. Look
for six on this play.

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 Sonic Boom twin tight

zone

Sonic Boom offers a few passing options. But if the QB plays

his cards right, he can suck up the deep defender on the
out pattern and hit the left receiver on the deep cross be-
hind. If the right defender plays the deep ball, hit the out.

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Steel Cross twin tight

man

This simple man defense play is designed to lose a defender

on a good out route. The right inside receiver should be the
first look. If he is covered, immediately go to the quick slant.

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 Super Shuffle double tight

threaten the run

zone

On Super Shuffle, as soon as the QB gets the ball, he sprints

to the left, as if he is on a bootleg route. He can play this
one of two ways: (1) Short yardage: if the team needs short
yardage, the QB should threaten the run and read the left
flat defender. If the defender sucks up, the QB should shuffle
pass to the right side blocker, or run if he doesn’t bite. (2)
Long yardage: if the wants big yards, the QB should just
read the deep defender and throw to the post or the flag
depending on coverage.

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Unders double tight

zone

Unders is designed to pick up a couple tough yards. It can

also be used to set up the longer pass. The right wideout is
the first look. He will quick slant under the right inside receiv-
er. As soon as they cross, hit the wideout.

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 WR Across twins

100% 75%

zone

WR Across is a great play. But only if it’s run correctly. The

right wideout is going to take two steps and then turn 90 de-
grees to the left, and run parallel to the line of scrimmage,
3-5 yards off. He should go 75% speed until he crosses the
middle and then he should turn it on. A quick pass from the
QB, and he is off to the races.

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 Copyright 2007:
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