Rocket Toss
Rocket Toss
Signature play (with Jet Sweep) of our
offense
 Run from almost any formation, with or
without motion
 Threatens the flank on every play
 Forces defense to adjust

Advantages of Rocket
Fastest run play to the flank
 Minimal teaching and installation
 Multiple formations and advantages
 Do not have to block – get in the way
 Under center or gun

Keys to success
Alignment
2. Numbering system
3. Footwork – QB, RB, OL, SE
4. Motion is full speed
5. Identify what defense is doing to take it
away
1.
Alignment
Non-negotiable
 Importance can not be over-stated
 QB Under C – TB toes need to be at 3.5
yards
 Gun – QB toes need to be at 3.5 yards
 Wingbacks – 1 foot by 1 foot
 SE (X), TE (Y) – formation, tag, etc.

 Splits err on being too tight
Numbering System
Allows us to identify who we need to
block
 Same system for Rocket and Jet (learn
it ONCE)
 Can apply to any defensive alignment
 Quickly allows us to see if defense is
outnumbering to the outside (counters)

Numbering System

VS. 4-4 (EVEN)
3
FS
C
3
C
5
2
R
4
1
E
M
N
B
T
5
2
1
S
W
Numbering System


vs 4-3 (even)
*Note: the “B”, or strong backer INSIDE the TE,
so he is not #2. The “W”, or Will, is out side the
LT, hence, #2.
3
C
R
FS
4
2
2
4
W
B
M
1
E
3
N
T
C
1
S
Numbering System
Vs 4-3 (even)
 Note: The “B” is now head up the tight
end (“Y”), so he is now #2

3
C
R
FS
4
2
3
2
W
B
M
1
E
4
N
T
C
1
S
Numbering System

Vs 5 – 2 (odd)
R
3
4
FS
3
C
5
2
W
1
E
M
B
N
C2
4
1
T
S
Numbering System

VS. 5 – 2 w/ reduced front backside
(“Eagle”)
3
FS
3
C
2
R
5
1
M
W
E
B
N
C
4
1
T
S
2
Numbering System

Vs. 3 – 5 (30 stack) “ODD 30”
FS
3
4
3
C
C
4
2
W
R
1
E
M
N
5
B
T
1
2
S
Footwork
Key to our offense
 Allows players to get in the right place
consistently
 Can not be emphasized too much
 Little thing that makes big difference
 Same terminology and message
 Most of the bad rockets/jets in the past
are poor footwork (OL, RB, QB, SE)
/snap point/motion

QB Footwork
QB footwork NEEDS to be crisp
 Athletic position – either under C or in
Gun
 Under Center use drop/punch step to 5
o’clock
 Gun Punch step to 2 o’clock
 ALWAYS follow toss and set up

WB’s / SE’s and Nasty/Flexed TE’s







BLOCK WITH FEET
WB’s or “Nasty TE” take a 45 degree
directional step EVERY TIME. Readjust path
from there. Aim to a spot and adjust based on
his reaction inside.
Beat the defender to the spot
Stretch – hook - wash
Use formations to put them in a different spot,
especially in tough match ups (DE in 50)
SE’s block support, UNLESS another scheme
is designated
Don’t let players cut until after the first week?
Edge Blocks – Hook, Stretch,
Wash (in order of preference)
1. Hook - quick reach step; with a correct outside
angle, head outside, pin the defender
2. Stretch – defender beats initial block. Turn butt
and feet to the inside and push him to the outside
3. Wash- very hard upfield thrust by defender to
player’s outside. Must get your butt inside AND
turned to the defense; and push him behind your
offensive set
**DOUBLE REACH DRILL = COMPETITION**
Rocket Motion
Leaves on QB’s foot. QB controls snap.
 Aiming point is ONE FOOT behind the
TB/QB.
 Once the WB reaches the depth of the
TB/QB’s heels the WB needs to get flat
until catching ball.
 Ball needs to be snapped when QB
loses WB in his peripheral vision
 Ball is caught over TE or “imaginary TE”

Rocket Blocking Rules

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




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Base to “Open Side”
Do not block #1
PST – Pull and by pass #1, look to cut off
#5 if possible OR first defender to show
PSG – Pull and turn up at first opening
C, BSG, BST, BSY – Zone Reach and up
field, do not hit anyone from behind
WB – reach #2
SE – Block support (#3 OR $)
TB – Dive Away if not in +/- alignment to
lead
Rocket Blocking Rules



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

Base to “closed side”
TE (Y) – Reach #1
PST – Pull, bypass #1 and get #5 OR first
defender to show
PSG – Pull and turn up at first opening
C, BSG, BST, BSY – Zone Reach and up
field, do not hit anyone from behind
WB – reach #2
TB – Dive Away if not in +/- alignment to
lead
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

“BAT” Call:
 Back and Tight End, or Tackle, SWITCH
assignments. Used when the DE is playing
too wide and cannot be reached by down
lineman.
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

“LEAD” and “LEAD CHIP”
 Usually used with an offset TB (+/-) in
formation. The TB also becomes and alley
player, aiming for the outside shoulder of
the TB. On LEAD CHIP the TB will “chip”
the man that the WB is reaching before
working up field.
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

“CRACK” Call:

Can be used when a Safety is running the
alley on motion, 2 Deep OR a CB is cheating
inside hard on motion. The SE, or whoever is
the widest man in the formation to side of the
Jet/Rocket, will “CRACK” inside on the safety
while the guard will be making a wide pull and
kicking out the CB. Same rules with the WB, if
he can reach, reach and the guard will go
outside and kick. Tricky read if #2 sprints
outside, guard has to quickly decide to turn
inside or continue outside.
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking


“CRACK STALK” (CS)
Can be used when a Safety is running the
alley on motion, 2 deep, a CB is cheating
inside hard on motion OR VERY GOOD
when #2 is playing really wide and running
outside. The SE, or widest man in the
formation, and WB switch assignments.
**Works best from compressed sets or
cheating in SE to formation**
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

Double Crack or “DC”

Both the wideman (often the X or a “Nasty” Y)
and the inside man, WB or Slot, will “Crack”
inside on the two men aligned inside them and
a guard will kick out.

If run from a trips set, often a compressed trips
set, it essentially becomes a version of “Crack
Stalk” , with the two outside men “cracking” on
the two players and the inside man leading
outside on the widest man.
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

“Push Crack” or “PC”

The SE (X), or widest man in formation
to playside, works with the TB. The X
has the option of blocking the CB or
Cracking on the Safety. By his seventh
step he must make a CLEAR and HARD
decision on his choice and the TB will
read. Good option on “Gun” Rockets
ALTERATIONS to Rocket Blocking

POST LEAD or “PL”

Used when in sets with a wide man and slot
inside. The wide man and slot will double
team #2, often the OLB while reading for the
safety. If the safety tries to play over the top,
the outside man will break off, if he plays
underneath, the inside man will break off. The
slot man protects against an inside fire will not
having to worry about getting beat outside
because the wide man is taking an angle to
avoid getting beat outside.