How to Run an Off Tackle Route in Football

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is Sean Hobson, for Expert Village. What we want to talk about now is when the running back takes the hand off and he runs an off tackle route. We want to talk about how he's supposed to hit the hole and where he's supposed to be going. This is a very effective play. This enables the running back to get to the outside a little but not to stretch it so wide that they'll be pushed to the side line. Obviously, this play can go to either side. The way it's set up is with the quarterback right behind the center with a guard to the right of center and a tackle to the left of center. Obviously, if this play is called off tackle we want our tackle to be able to seal the inside, we want the tight end to kick his guy outside and we want our running back to come through the gap. This is not our three holes, but our five hole. That's the off tackle. On the other side, you have the same thing. You have the guard and the tackle. In this case, there's no tight end on this side. In this case, it will be a little harder for him to get to the outside. That's what an off tackle is. It's running to that certain position, looking for the blocks; he's going to read the blocks. If he has his man sealed to the inside and the tight end kicks out he'll go through the off tackle. If the tight end is able to get outside and block his man inside he'll go off of the tight end a little more to the outside. That's the effective way to run an off tackle route."