Playbooks
Breakdown
Power Option out of Pistol Strong is a run play built off gap scheme power blocking with the QB reading the edge defender on an option keep or pitch. The diagram shows the offensive line down blocking with a puller wrapping to the play side while the QB arrow shows a hard read up through the line of scrimmage and the HB arrow flares out wide as the pitch man. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read progression is the QB reading the unblocked edge defender first (keep or give) before deciding to pull it or pitch to the trailing back.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end or OLB pre-snap since he is unblocked by design and dictates the QB keep or pitch decision If the defense shows a crashing edge defender who squeezes down hard, expect the pitch to the trailing HB User the play side linebacker to fill the alley and take away both the QB keep lane and the pitch lane simultaneously Stacked fronts with an extra run fitter at the second level can blow this up before the puller gets to the edge Watch for safety rotation down into the box pre-snap, which signals run support and can be defeated by attacking the opposite edge
Usage Tips
Run this play against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box to give your puller a clean lane
Check the defensive end or outside linebacker alignment pre-snap since he is the read key on the option
Use the left analog stick to manually pull the QB down the line before committing to the pitch read if the defense crashes hard
Pair this with HB Power and HB Off Tackle from the same set to keep defenders honest on the same gap scheme look
Best used on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when defenses are more likely to sit in base run fits
