Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Ravens Power is a gap scheme run play out of the Pistol Strong formation with 21 personnel, designed to get downhill movement with a lead blocker paving the way through the point of attack. The offensive line pulls a backside guard to create a double team and kick out the edge defender, while the fullback leads through the hole to take on the first linebacker showing in the alley. The primary read progression starts with the play side double team, then bounces to the fullback's kickout block, giving the HB a designed track that can bend backside if the frontside gets clogged.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for a stacked box with the strong safety cheating down near the line of scrimmage, this is the biggest tell that the defense is sitting on gap runs like Ravens Power. Watch the defensive tackle alignment, if he is shaded into a 2i or 3 technique on the play side it disrupts the double team timing and can blow up the run before the fullback even gets to his block. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's first step, if he flows hard and fast downhill without hesitation he is reading run and will meet the fullback in the hole quickly, forcing the HB to cut back early. User-controlled defenders flowing to the point of attack, especially a user Mike linebacker shooting the gap, are the biggest threat to this play, so mix in cutback lanes by not committing the HB too early to the called hole. Against Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells with the free safety deep, the box numbers are often lighter, making Ravens Power more effective since there are fewer extra defenders to account for the double team and fullback lead.
Usage Tips
Run this out of Pistol Strong on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when you have single high safety looks presnap, since power schemes struggle against extra defenders in the box from 2 high shells that can rotate down fast.
Check the Mike linebacker depth before the snap, if he is stacked tight to the line at 3 or 4 yards you likely face a run blitz and should consider audibling to HB Slip Screen or Spacing to punish the aggression.
Use your right stick to manually guide the fullback into the correct gap if the CPU logic hesitates, since user-controlled lead blocking on the fullback is what makes this play hit for explosive gains instead of 2 or 3 yard grinds.
Pair Ravens Power with HB Counter and HB Off Tackle from the same Pistol Strong personnel to keep the defense guessing on backside versus frontside gap schemes without changing your personnel tell.
Avoid calling this against defenses stacked in a 46 front or heavy 8 man box looks, since the double team at the point of attack will not generate enough movement and the fullback will get outnumbered in the hole.
