In this week’s installment of “Draw It Up,” we’ll explore the use of reverse plays by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns only ran one reverse against the Indianapolis Colts, but they incorporated the reverse motion into a handful of run plays.
Reverse plays are always controversial. When they work, the coach looks like a genius, but when the play fails, the coach is a moron with worms for brains. Last week, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman participated in a role reversal when he grilled a reporter, the coach of the flag football team Freeman’s son plays for, on his decision to call a reverse pass that failed in the red zone.
No play is more criticized than the reverse. That’s why I want to look at the process that goes into a play that’s solely dictated by its results. Kevin Stefanski does love his reverse plays, a tendency that he receives plenty of criticism for. The goal of the reverse is to outflank an over-aggressive opponent. It’s a good way to keep defenders honest and make them defend every yard on a football field.
Jerome Ford's TD
The first play is Jerome Ford’s touchdown run. It’s a split-zone run play married with a fake wide receiver reverse. The split zone is an inside zone play with a tight end or receiver cutting across the formation to block the backside end. Adding a reverse turns the backside blocker into a lead blocker. This action creates a lot of conflict for linebackers and safeties who are diagnosing the play. As I highlight in the video below, the Browns use the action to take advantage of the Colts’ backside defenders.
Jerome Ford's touchdown. Split zone with a fake receiver reverse. pic.twitter.com/KtzPm6BBIJ
— Browns Alchemist (@BrownsAlchemy) October 29, 2023
While this series highlights the plays, players have to make them. I really wanted to highlight Ford manipulating Deforest Buckner by feigning which gap he’ll attack. The move turns the play from a 5-yard gain to a touchdown. Ford showed impressive skills here. As we’ll see in the next play, it’s very difficult to escape Buckner.
Marquise Goodwin's 17 yard reverse
To set the stage for the Marquise Goodwin reverse run: Kareem Hunt has gashed the Colts for 16 yards on the two previous carries by cutting his runs to the backside as the Colts were over-pursuing. The Browns called a reverse off their pin-and-pull concept to take advantage of the aggressive backside defenders.
Browns receiver reverse with Marquise Goodwin pic.twitter.com/ldkGi07KPI
— Browns Alchemist (@BrownsAlchemy) October 29, 2023
The Colts defenders did a better job of staying home, requiring P.J. Walker to block a defensive end. Dawand Jones does a great job of running a safety out of the way. I understand, if I saw a 6-foot-8, 375-pound man running at me I would retreat to the tunnel. However, Buckner does an amazing job of running down this play. There’s a reason why he’s a two-time All-Pro. If he still played on a notable team, he would be a four-time All-Pro. Kareem Hunt scores two plays later after the reverse puts them inside the 5-yard line. These two plays illustrate what teams try to attack when calling a reverse.
