Playbooks
HB Power O out of the Pistol Full Panther set is a gap scheme run play built on a lead blocker pulling from the backside guard or fullback to kick out the edge defender at the point of attack. The offensive line down blocks to create a wall while the puller leads the HB through the designated gap, giving the runner a clear hole to press before breaking outside or cutting up inside off the block. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read progression starts with the pulling blocker, key his kick out block, then decide whether to bend outside the block or cut inside on the backside cutback lane.
Watch linebacker depth and alignment pre-snap, stacked linebackers sitting tight to the line signal a run blitz look that can beat the pulling blocker to the hole before the kick out is set. Identify the edge defender assignment before the snap, if he is crashing hard inside on run support he becomes an easy kick out target, but if he holds his gap and reads the pull, the play gets strung out. Look for safety rotation into the box, an eight man front or heavy run commit safety alignment shuts this play down by outnumbering the blocking scheme at the point of attack. Post-snap, track the backside linebacker for cutback pursuit, aggressive flow to the play side opens a cutback lane behind the pulling blocker for a big gain. Beware of a Mike linebacker blitzing through the A gap pre-pull, this nano style blitz can blow up the play before the puller reaches his landmark, so identify blitz timing from linebacker crowding at the snap.
Run this early in a series to establish gap integrity before mixing in Read Option or Triple Option from the same Pistol Full Panther set to stress backside pursuit with mesh point reads.
Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or more defenders stacked in the box, consider audibling to a pass concept like Slants or PA Boot Rt instead of forcing the run into a loaded front.
Use the pulling lead blocker as your primary user control point if you want to manually seal an edge defender who is reading the pull too fast, this gives you control over the most important block on the play.
Pair this with HB Dive WK in the same set to create a downhill run package that keeps linebackers honest and slows their flow to the play side.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when you have numbers in the box advantage, and avoid it in obvious passing situations where defenses sell out to stop the run with extra box defenders.