Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
SFT Mtn Counter F is a power run play out of I Form's Y Off Close set with 21 personnel on the field. The diagram shows a shift and motion (SFT) bringing extra flow to the play side before the snap, with the offensive line pulling counter style to seal the point of attack while the fullback and lead back cross the formation to kick out the edge defender and lead through the hole. The HB takes a counter step away from the flow before pressing back into the vacated gap behind the pulling guard, so the primary read progression is patience: let the counter action develop, key the fullback's kickout block, then follow the pulling guard into the hole for the cutback lane.
Defensive Reads
Watch the second level linebacker depth before the snap, if they are stacked tight to the line they can beat the pulling guard to the hole and blow up the counter. Identify whether the defense flows hard with the initial shift and motion, since disciplined defenses that stay home and read the counter step will have an unblocked defender waiting in the cutback lane. Key the edge defender's reaction to the fullback's kickout block, a defender who sets the edge and refuses to get kicked out forces the HB to bounce outside into pursuit. Man coverage and single high shells tend to overcommit defenders to run support based on motion, making this a strong man beater against those looks, but two high safety shells with disciplined linebackers who stay square are the toughest matchup. Look out for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the counter lane (a lurk style run fit), since that is the most common way competitive opponents shut this play down at the mesh point.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap shift and motion to bait linebackers into flowing toward the fake side before the ball is snapped, this is your primary tool for reading run blitz versus base fronts.
Look for light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the counter blocking scheme needs numbers advantage at the point of attack to create the cutback lane.
Against aggressive linebackers who key on FB motion, hot route the FB block assignment or check the play at the line if you see a linebacker cheating hard toward the pulling guard's path.
Pair this with Mtn PA Counter or SFT Mtn PA Flood in your play calling sequence so defenses that load the box to stop the counter get burned by play action off the same shift and motion look.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when defenses are still respecting balanced run-pass tendencies from Y Off Close.
