Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Counter Y-Lead out of Pistol Full House Over Close is a power run play built on misdirection. The offensive line pulls the backside guard and tackle to lead through the hole while the fullback and Y (tight end) lead block ahead of the ball carrier, creating a wall on the play side. The HB takes a counter step away from the play direction before pressing back downhill behind the pulling linemen, making this a classic gap scheme run designed to attack aggressive downhill linebackers and beat overpursuit from run fits.
Defensive Reads
Watch the defensive line for slanting or crashing calls, since heavy line movement to the play side can beat the pullers to the point of attack before they set the edge. Key the play side linebacker depth, if he sits at the line of scrimmage instead of reading his gap, he can blow up the counter step before the ball carrier presses the hole. User the backside linebacker or a lurking defender to spy the counter action and close the cutback lane, this play is vulnerable to a disciplined defender who does not bite on the initial flow. Check safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety who triggers downhill fast can beat the blockers to the alley, while two deep safeties tend to stay back and let the counter develop. Man coverage defenders who bail into run support late are the easiest to exploit, but a scraping edge defender who reads pulling linemen and squeezes the hole will consistently kill this run.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run this into light boxes of six defenders or fewer since the counter action needs time to develop and extra defenders will erase the play.
Look for linebackers flowing hard to the play side flow key, since the counter step is designed to freeze them and let the pullers get to the second level clean.
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and keep the defense honest against your pass-heavy calls from this same formation.
Pair Counter Y-Lead with HB Dive and HB Stretch from this set so defenses cannot key on the pulling linemen and start crashing down early.
If you see a stacked box with safeties creeping into the alley pre-snap, check to a play-action shot like PA Boot Lt or PA Flood X-Post Stop instead since the counter will not have room to hit.
