The Outside Edge Master: Mastering Sweep Plays with the Daylight Outside Drill
Sweep plays are a staple of many offensive schemes, relying on the running back’s ability to find the open seam outside the tackle or tight end and explode into the secondary. The “Daylight Outside” Drill equips your running backs with the vision, timing, and explosiveness needed to excel in these plays, consistently finding the daylight and racking up yards.
Purpose
- Enhance Vision Skills for Sweep Plays: This drill trains running backs to scan the defensive alignment with a focus on the outside edge, identifying the most likely gap for a successful sweep play. They learn to anticipate potential defender movements and adjust their path accordingly.
- Develop Decisive Cuts with Speed: The drill emphasizes the importance of decisive cuts with maintained speed. Running backs practice reading defender movement and executing sharp cuts towards the open gap (daylight) without sacrificing momentum.
- Refine Timing and Execution: The drill helps running backs refine their timing and execution of sweep plays. They learn to approach the tackle/tight end at the correct pace and angle, triggering their cut based on defender movement to hit the opening at full speed.
- Cultivate Explosiveness: Throughout the drill, running backs practice maintaining explosiveness through the cut. This ensures they attack the open lane with power, maximizing yardage gained on sweep plays.
Description
Drill Setup
- Mark the offensive line on the field using cones or a linestrip marker, focusing on the tackle and tight end positions on the playside. This helps the running back visualize their running path.
- Position 3 players on the defensive side, approximately 1 yard behind the designated line of scrimmage (LOS) on the playside of the sweep. These players will simulate defenders and holding shields.
- One defender should be positioned outside the tackle/tight end position by about 2 yards, mimicking a potential contain defender.
- The remaining two defenders should be positioned further outside the contain defender, spaced 3-4 yards apart, representing potential secondary defenders who might try to collapse the play.
- The running back lines up in their normal pre-snap position according to the sweep play call.The coach acts as the play caller and signals to the “shield holders” how many defenders should “slide” based on a pre-determined numbering system (explained below).
Sliding Signals
- 0: All three defenders slowly slide laterally along the LOS towards the sideline, essentially leaving the entire outside edge open for the running back.
- 1: Only the defender positioned furthest outside (contain defender) aggressively “over-pursues” by sliding quickly towards the sideline, simulating a defender overreacting to the sweep play.
- 2: Only the defender positioned closest to the tackle/tight end (innermost defender) slides slowly laterally, while the other two defenders maintain their positions. This might represent a situation where the defense sniffs out the sweep and the contain defender crashes down quickly.
- 3: All three defenders aggressively slide laterally towards the tackle/tight end position, simulating a defense collapsing the outside edge to contain the sweep play. This creates a tighter running lane for the back to exploit.
Drill Excecution
- On the coach’s signal, the running back explodes forward, simulating their running path in a sweep play. They should maintain good posture, ball security, and focus on reading the defender movement outside the tackle/tight end.
- As the running back approaches the tackle/tight end position (designated point), the defenders with the shields will initiate their slide based on the coach’s signal.
- Upon recognizing the opening created by defender movement (daylight), the running back should react instantly. They should execute a sharp, decisive cut towards the open gap while maintaining good balance and explosiveness.
- The running back should drive through the gap with full speed, aiming for 4-6 yards past the tackle/tight end position to complete the drill.
Progressions
- Introduce Live Tackling (Optional): For a more advanced challenge, consider incorporating “live” tackling (with proper safety precautions) later in the progression. This allows running backs to experience the intensity of a real game situation while practicing their sweep play technique against a resisting defender.
- Vary Defender Movement: Throughout the drill, experiment with different defender movement patterns beyond the pre-determined signals. This challenges the running back’s ability to read and react to unexpected defensive adjustments.
Coaching Points
- Full-Speed Approach: Reinforce the importance of maintaining full speed throughout the drill. Running backs should not slow down as they approach the tackle/tight end, but rather use their explosiveness to hit the opening at full tilt.
- Read and React: Emphasize the need for the running back to read defender movement and react quickly. Their cut should be triggered by the opening created, not by a predetermined point on the field.
- Maintain Eyes Downfield: While keeping an eye on the defenders near the tackle/tight end, remind running backs to maintain some level of peripheral vision focused down
- field. This allows them to spot potential tacklers and adjust their course if necessary after breaking through the initial gap.Sharp Cuts with Body Control: Focus on the importance of executing sharp, decisive cuts while maintaining good body control. This allows the running back to change direction quickly and efficiently while keeping their balance to avoid fumbles.
- Hips and Shoulders Follow the Cut: Ensure the running back understands the importance of rotating their hips and shoulders in the direction of the cut. This helps them maintain momentum and power as they burst through the opening.
- Finish Strong: Emphasize the importance of finishing the run strong, even after they have broken through the gap. Running backs should drive their legs and maintain good posture for maximum yardage gained.
Equipment
- Footballs (1 per running back)
- 3 Shields
- Cones or Linemen-split marker
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