Editing Draw play (section)

{{Short description|American football run play}}
A '''draw play''', or simply '''draw''' for short, is a type of [[American football]] play. The draw is a running play disguised as a passing play.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GmbHwKOvNcIC|title=Play Football The NFL Way: Position by Position Techniques and Drills for Offense and Special Teams|first=Tom|last=Bass|date=15 June 1991|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9780312059477|via=Google Books}}</ref> It is the opposite of a [[play action pass|play-action pass]], which is a passing play disguised as a running play. The play is often used in long yardage situations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4Ndb8It1LsC|title=Complete Quarterbacking|first=Don|last=Read|date=1 January 2002|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=9780736039840|via=Google Books}}</ref>

The idea behind a draw play is to attack aggressive, pass-rushing defenses by "drawing" the [[defensive line]]men across the [[line of scrimmage]] towards the passer while the [[linebacker]]s and [[defensive back]]s commit to positioning themselves downfield in anticipation of a pass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/running-plays-in-football.html|title = Running Plays in Football}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N1JSk1GjlEEC|title=Football's Best Offensive Playbook|first=Dwight|last=Hawkes|date=1 January 1995|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=9780873225748|via=Google Books}}</ref> This creates larger gaps between defenders and thereby allows the offense to effectively run the ball. Draw plays are often run out of the [[shotgun formation]],<ref>e. g. {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThPcLotSlYUC|title=On Coaching Football: A Resource and Guide for Coaches|first=Thomas A.|last=Dean|date=1 January 2012|publisher=Universal-Publishers|isbn=9781612330488|via=Google Books}}</ref> but can also be run when the [[quarterback]] is under center. These types of draw plays are sometimes referred to as "delayed handoffs".

The [[running back]] will most often run straight downfield through the [[Hole (American football)|hole]] in the "A-[[Gap (American football)|gap]]" (the space between the [[center (gridiron football)|center]] and the [[offensive guard]]), although there are more complicated variations. The most common variation of this play is the "quarterback draw," where the quarterback himself runs the ball, instead of handing it off, meaning the running back is free to help block.