NFL Run Schemes-Trap variations vs 4-2 nickel front

The trap play is one of the best plays in football and usually a play you can run against a nickel 4-2 look out of 11 personnel. You will often get that defense and trap is an easy play to run against the defense.

I watched the Eagles, Colts and Chargers do it on numerous occasions in various ways. The great thing about the trap is if you get the look, run it. If you don't like it you check out and run something else. That's the way the NFL teams do it. It's a great run, vs 4-2 teams and the nickel world we live in!

Sometimes they run it traditional with only one guard pulling. Other times they influence block it  pulling both guards, getting plenty of yards against disciplined defensive lineman who follow the first guard. It's often a great play against teams that move alot, and with an overemphasis on pass rush the play has had great success.

The last way they run it is if the backside gets a 3 technique. In these situations they pull the tackle and have the guard block solid on it. 

Example #1 Tackle Trap

Here's a look at the influence trap. 1st and 10 vs the Bengals. Bengals in a 4-3 look with 2 3 tech.

What that does is change the puller. The tackle pulls when their is a 3 tech on the backside rather than the guard. You can make this your rule both in your wrap scheme and your trap scheme vs a 4-2. Pulling the tackle can give you better angles on down blocks.

They run tackle trap, same rule 3 tech so the tackle pulls and they run it long and block the de (5 tech) . IN theory Peters is a better puller so they may be trying to set it up this way as most teams set the front to the tight end. THey picture below is no different. Looks like the dt is in a 2i thus making the long call.  

#2 Influence Trap

Here's a look at the influence trap. 1st and 10 vs the Bengals. Bengals in a 4-3 look with 2 3 tech.

What that does is change the puller. The tackle pulls when their is a 3 tech on the backside rather than the guard. 

Great design for a nice 16 yard result.

#3 H Back Variation

Use the H Back as a trapper is another scheme vs 4-2 nickel.

Vs the 49ers on 2nd and 14, they run it with three trap blocks. Creative scheme and design.They influence with both guards and wham with the tight end down. 

The h back has a great angle and the RB aiming point is the inside leg of the tackle. You have 2 influence blocks that really help sell the defense.

The Te and bot guards have angles on their men and the center and RT have good angles for the LB. The Guard pulls get the LB’s moving in the opposite direction of the play.

Excellent design on 2nd and 14 for a nice 8 yard gain and a huge hole set up with great angles in the run game.

VARIATION #4 TRAP THE DE

The Browns run it and trap the defensive end vs the Steelers. This is an effective way to run it as you know attack the defensive end and in this case the Steelers nickel back. The Steelers are in an over front vs the Browns

They get great angles and run the play very nicely. They ran it 2 times for 36 yards in this game.

These are some of the variations of trap that you can run inside and outside at the high school and college level. It is a very effective play vs nickel defenses.