Playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat HB Counter is a power run play out of Pistol Wing Close with 12 personnel that uses misdirection to attack the edge after showing flow one way. The offensive line pulls the backside guard and the wing tight end kicks out to lead through the hole while the frontside tight end and slot man motion block downfield to seal the perimeter, creating a counter run lane away from initial flow. This is a run play built to beat aggressive downhill linebackers and overpursuing fronts, with the primary read being the play side kickout block first, then the pulling lead blocker in the hole as the runner presses the point of attack and picks his crease.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the box count: if the defense stacks eight or more in the box against 12 personnel, this counter can still work because the misdirection is designed to move bodies out of position rather than win with numbers. Watch the play side edge defender and linebacker leverage, if they are crashing hard down the line on the initial flow fake, the counter lane will be wide open behind the pulling blockers. Key the Mike linebacker's first step, aggressive downhill defenses that do not respect the counter action get gashed, while disciplined linebackers who stay square and read the pulling guard can close the cutback lane quickly. This play struggles against disciplined gap-sound defenses and defenses that spy the backfield with a linebacker reading the mesh point instead of flowing with the fake. Watch for a user-controlled defender staying home in the counter hole or a defensive lineman crossing his face to blow up the pulling guard, both are signs the play has been scouted and you should check to a different run concept from the set.
Usage Tips
Run this out of Pistol Wing Close on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest against your play-action and RPO calls from the same set. Check the linebacker depth pre-snap: if both backers are sitting tight to the line reading run, the counter action will get them flowing hard and out of position for the cutback. Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are looking at man coverage and the counter should hit clean since the extra body is occupied. Pair this play with HB Stretch and HB Zone in the same personnel grouping so the defense cannot key run direction based on formation alone. Against slanting fronts or defensive line stunts to the play side, consider hot routing the fullback or wing TE to adjust the kickout angle, and be ready to bounce this outside if the interior gets clogged by a stacked box.
