Crack block
What it is
A receiver blocking down on a force defender from the outside in, so a lineman or back can take the corner.
Why it matters
Cracking changes the perimeter arithmetic: the force player is removed by a receiver, and the defender who would have covered that receiver now has to become the force player himself, usually from a worse angle. It must be thrown above the waist and from the front — a crack that arrives from behind or below is a penalty and often an ejection.
Both sides of it
Running it
The receiver takes an inside-out angle at the force defender's near shoulder and blocks him away from the ball, while a tackle or back arcs outside to take the corner replacing him.
Stopping it
Crack replace: the cracked defender fights outside pressure and works over the top, and the corner immediately becomes the force player, taking on the arc blocker with his outside arm free. The exchange has to be called out loud — a silent crack replace is an uncovered edge.
Also called
Programs call this crack, crack back or crack and replace. The Coach answers to any of them.
Related
This entry is authored, not generated. It is one of 205 in the index that the AI-ssistant Coach retrieves from, and that Film Study tags clips against.