Playbooks

Ravens Power

Pistol·Strong·21

Run Play

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetStrong

Personnel

212 RB · 1 TE · 2 WR

In 5 playbooks

Franchise Offense OptionOffense Ravens OffenseOffense Sim Veritcaltespine Ph OffenseOffense Superstar QB Scrambler NFL Live Ravens OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Ravens Power is a gap scheme run play out of the Pistol Strong formation with 21 personnel, designed to get downhill fast with a lead blocker punching a hole for the ball carrier. The offensive line pulls the backside guard to seal the point of attack while the fullback or second back leads through the hole, giving the HB a designated crease to press before bouncing outside if the alley closes. This is a power run concept, not a play action or RPO, so the primary read progression is simply pressing the hole, reading the pulling guard's block, and deciding to stick it inside or bounce based on how the linebackers flow.

Defensive Reads

Look for linebacker depth and alignment pre-snap, if the mike and will are sitting shallow and stacked tight to the box this play will struggle to find a crease. Identify whether the defense is in a run blitz look with safeties creeping down, since Ravens Power struggles against gap exchange stunts and edge blitzers who crash inside the pulling guard's path. Beats light boxes and base fronts where linebackers are reading run flow late, especially against 4-3 under fronts that get sealed by the double team at the point of attack. Watch for user controlled defenders shooting the gap the pulling guard is aiming for, a well timed nano blitz or A gap shoot can blow this play up before the lead blocker gets set. Against zone blitz or contain schemes that keep an extra man outside, bounce the run wider rather than forcing it back inside into a numbers disadvantage.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and keep defenses honest against your play action shots.

Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has stacked eight or nine in the box you likely want to check to a pass instead of forcing this run into a loaded front.

Use the lead blocker as your key, let him work through the hole first and press the crease rather than juking immediately at the line of scrimmage.

Pair this with Orbit HB Power and Orbit HB Power G from the same set to keep the same run action look while varying the angle and motion, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their fits.

Mix in HB Counter and Power Option after establishing Ravens Power to punish linebackers who start flowing hard downhill on run reads, since the misdirection off similar formation shells will freeze them.