This 8v8 flag football play is highly effective with an above average runner as your primary QB (check out these QB tips here), but you don’t have to be the best athlete in the world to make it an effective play.
This particular 8on8 flag football play starts with the quarterback determining which way the rusher will be coming from, and running away from him, with the center picking up his backside by blocking the rusher. If he doesn’t get a good block, the play probably won’t be very effective, so it’s highly important to have a center who’s capable of blocking at a high level. If there are multiple rushers, then the QB can pick either side and just tip the center off as to which way he’ll be rolling.
Once the quarterback takes off to either side, he immediately has several options to run through. The [4] and [5] star receivers stay in pitch position on the sideline first to give the quarterback an option to throw back in case they were being rushed and that rusher bolts straight for the primary QB, leaving your star uncovered, before wheeling up the sideline. Chances are, that rusher will float outside to chase your star, and you’ll have a choice of either hitting your quick slant route (with your center now in position for the pitch game) or running right off the bat with your star as your pitch option. Another good option is to hesitate a bit before taking off on the run, sucking in the second rusher, looking down the slant, and hitting your star as he wheels down the sideline uncovered.
Finally what typically happens after you’ve run the play a couple times, is faking all the above options, and pulling up to hit the deep corner/drag behind the secondary as they suck in to prevent the quick throw and run options. The reads happen fast but in fairly predictable order, so it’s not as complicated as it sounds. And if all else fails or the QB gets stuck, chances are his backside star will be open for a throwback and he’ll have options on that side to work with as well.
As long as the opposite rusher gets blocked effectively, the quarterback should be able to make quick reads off the remaining options and it’s a very hard to defend in either a man or zone defense, making it one of my favorite all around 8on8 flag football plays for any down and distance
