Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Power O out of Pistol Wing Tight Z is a gap scheme run play designed to pull the backside guard and kick out the point of attack with a lead blocker. The diagram shows the HB aligned in the backfield taking a downhill angle off the guard's pull path, hitting the hole created between the playside tackle and tight end. This is a run play built to overpower the defensive front with double team blocks at the point of attack and a puller leading through the hole, so the primary read progression is: identify the puller's kick out block, press the hole, and cut off the lead blocker's path based on how the linebacker flows.
Defensive Reads
Watch for stacked fronts with linebackers crowding the line of scrimmage pre-snap, since that indicates the defense is loading the box to spill the power run. Key the defensive end and outside linebacker to the play side. If they crash hard down inside, the puller may not get a clean kick out angle and the back should cut it back. Look for user controlled linebackers flowing fast downhill at the snap. Aggressive shooters can blow up the pulling guard's track before he reaches the hole. Man coverage on the backside with no extra flow support usually means a light box, which favors this power concept heavily. Zone coverage shells with safeties rotating down into the box late are a strong sign of run blitz or contain support, which can shut down the edge before the puller finishes his kick out.
Usage Tips
Run this play when you see light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the pulling guard needs room to work against off ball linebackers rather than stacked fronts.
Check safety alignment pre-snap. Two high shells with safeties outside the tackle box give you a numbers advantage for the power scheme, while single high looks mean an extra hat in the box you need to account for.
Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz or run fits before the snap, then trust your pulling guard to seal the edge defender.
Pair this with Read Option and HB Zone Wk from the same set to keep defenses guessing between gap and zone concepts, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
On third and short or goal line situations, this is a premier call because the physical double teams and lead blocker create a hard downhill push that is tough to stop with base fronts.
Avoid calling this into heavy blitz packages with extra defenders crashing the same gap as your pull, since the puller can get beat to the spot before he reaches his target.
