Playbooks
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Power O out of the I Form Close set is a gap scheme run play built to move a defense off the ball with a pulling blocker leading through the hole. From the diagram, the HB takes a lead step to the play side gap with the FB kicking out to seal the edge, while the offensive line down blocks and a guard pulls to provide the point of attack blocker for the HB's cutback lane. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and it is designed to attack gap and one high safety fronts by out-numbering the box with the pulling guard and FB combo. The primary read progression is the HB following the pulling guard, reading the FB's kickout block first, then working through the play side gap and cutting back if the alley is filled.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth pre-snap, stacked or crashing linebackers signal a run blitz that can beat the pulling guard before he reaches his block. Key the defensive end and outside linebacker to the play side, if they crash hard inside the FB kickout block can spring the cutback lane for a big gain. Identify one high safety shells pre-snap, single high alignments often mean an extra defender in the box which challenges the numbers advantage this play needs. Post-snap, track the play side linebacker's fill angle, if he stays home and reads the pulling guard quickly the HB should cut back away from the flow. This play struggles against gap exchange stunts and slanting defensive lines that disrupt the down blocks, and it can be shut down entirely by an overloaded box with two high safeties rotating down late.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and count box defenders, Power O needs a numbers advantage or a favorable angle for the pulling guard to be effective.
Attack fronts with six or fewer defenders in the box, especially against base 4-3 or 3-4 looks where linebackers are stacked deep instead of crowding the line.
Use manual control on the HB after the handoff so you can press the hole and read the FB's kickout block before deciding to cut it back against flowing linebackers.
Pair this with HB Zone Toss and HB Counter Wk in the same set to keep the defense guessing between gap and zone run concepts out of the same I Form Close look.
Run this on early downs, first and second and short to medium yardage, when defenses are more likely to play base run fits instead of nickel or dime sub packages.
