Fake (american football)
A fake in American football ( English for forgery or deception) is a faked ball transfer or a faked pass. Fakes are used as part of the attack strategy to create or exploit positional errors in defense. Fakes are different from trick plays and misdirection plays , as they are part of a move and not a move in and of itself.
Run fake
A run fake is a faked ball transfer that is intended to create confusion about the ultimate recipient of the ball. The run fake, also known as fake handoff , can be followed by a run as well as a pass . The running game with a faked ball transfer aims to disguise the intended ball carrier in order to give the runner an advantage. In attacking formations with more than one running back , a run fake tries to confuse the defense by multiple potential ball carriers. Since the run fake does not necessarily mean a handover of the ball, the quarterback can also keep the ball after a completed deception and thus advance.
The pass after a run fake is commonly referred to as play action . Here the attacking team tries to develop three advantages in the passing game through a simulated running game. First, a simulated transfer of the ball draws the defense's attention to the alleged run, which allows the quarterback to pass without being pushed. Second, since the successful execution of the run fake takes time, it enables the wide receiver to run long pass routes. Thirdly, the feigned transfer of the ball provokes positional errors in the pass defense, which allows the pass recipients to break away from their cover and to use uncovered spaces.
The execution of the Run Fake can be varied in order to manipulate the defense in different ways. Thus, the running clearance can be obtained by a quick-out holding of the ball to be fooled, which is mainly used for causing position errors and indecision in the pass defense. The quarterback always keeps an eye on the defense in order to locate any free-running pass recipients more quickly. But the running game can also be an out holding the ball followed by averting the quarterback before being deceived. After holding out the ball, the quarterback turns his back on the defense together with the ball to make the supposed run even more convincing. Since the quarterback is not mistaken for a ball carrier, he can then come freely to the pass. The time gained in this way, in combination with the successful deception of the defense, enables the pass recipients to cover long distances on the field without covering.
Pass fake
A pass fake is a faked pass that is intended to create confusion about the time, destination and place of the pass. In English, the pass fake is also known as a pump fake because of its broken throwing motion . Like the run fake, the pass fake can be part of both a running play and a passing play. The aim of a pass fake is to put the opponent's defense in an unfavorable position by reacting to un-thrown passes.
Draw or delay
A pass is faked by the quarterback. He takes a few steps backwards, holds the ball ready to be thrown and looks around for free receivers, but eventually gives a handoff to a ball carrier or runs himself. The defense reacts to the supposed pass by trying to clear the deep spaces and to cover the wide receivers. This usually creates gaps in the area around the line of scrimmage . Draws or delays work best after a series of passing plays.
Counter
Counters are runs in which the back fakes one direction by taking a step there, but then running into another. Due to the delay, so-called pull maneuvers are also possible, in which an offensive lineman does not block straight ahead as usual, but runs out behind the line and tries to block there. Counter works best against aggressive defenses that often flash and storm in the wrong direction.
Trap
Traps are runs in which the running back fakes one direction but then runs in the other. Due to the delay, a pull maneuver by the backside guard of the offensive line is possible, in which the guard does not block straight ahead as usual, but runs behind the line to block the defensive tackle that has passed through. In contrast to the counter, the trap is a running play for short distances, which is more concentrated in the middle. With the counter, the move is oriented towards the outside and can also provide a large gain in space. Traps works best against aggressive defenses that often flash and storm in the wrong direction, best after a series of counters or outward runs.