Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Counter Lead out of Pistol Full House Base is a 21 personnel power run play built to attack the backside gap with misdirection. The diagram shows the offensive line stepping down and pulling the backside guard around the point of attack while the lead blocker (fullback or second HB) leads through the hole ahead of the ball carrier, who steps opposite the flow before cutting back. This is a pure run play with no route concept shown, designed to punish overpursuit and aggressive downhill linebackers, so the primary read is the pulling lead blocker: press the hole, read his block, and cut off his hip.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the linebacker depth and shade: stacked or crashed backers on the play side get gashed once the counter action hits because they lose contain integrity. Watch for a scrape exchange or defensive end that stays home instead of chasing the initial flow, since disciplined edge defenders are the main counter to this concept. Post-snap, key the pulling lead blocker's path and the first defender he engages, that block determines whether you press the hole or bounce it outside. If the defense shows a heavy box with an extra safety or linebacker walked down pre-snap, expect the counter to get read quickly and consider checking to a pass concept instead. User-controlled defenders who fly downhill on the initial line movement are the ones this play exploits, so bait aggressive user linebackers before calling this in a sequence.
Usage Tips
Run this out of Pistol Full House Base when the defense shows a light box or an overshifted front, since the counter action deletes the backside pursuit angle.
Watch the linebacker flow pre-snap: if the Mike and Will are already cheating toward the play call from film tendencies, counter action will freeze them and open the cutback lane.
Pair Counter Lead with Wing PA Cross or PA Boot from the same formation so the defense has to respect both the counter run action and the play-action boot off identical alignment.
Use this on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and medium) to stay ahead of the chains, since the misdirection needs a defense that is not yet in an obvious run-stop or dime package.
Avoid calling this against fast-flow scrape exchange defenses or teams that stunt the play side, since the counter blocking scheme can get beat before the pull develops.
