Playbooks
Breakdown
Power O out of the Power I Strong formation with 31 personnel is a downhill gap scheme run designed to pull the fullback and off-side guard through the hole for a lead blocker on the point of attack. The diagram shows the HB taking a lead step before cutting off the pulling blockers, hitting either the strong side B gap or bouncing outside depending on the flow of the defensive line. This is a run play, not a pass concept, and the primary read is one cut: identify the pulling guard and fullback, then follow the double lead blocks through the designated gap.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a stacked Mike linebacker at 3-4 yards depth, this signals a quick downhill fill that can blow up the play if you do not set the edge with your fullback lead. Identify 4-3 under fronts with the defensive tackle shaded into the strong side B gap, this can clog the primary rushing lane and force an immediate bounce read. Key the strong safety in the box, if he is cheating down pre-snap the defense is loading the run fit and you should consider an audible to a play-action concept instead. Look for edge defenders crashing hard inside on the snap, this often opens a cutback lane to the backside if your fullback picks up the puller cleanly. Beware user-controlled linebackers spying the fullback's pull path, a good user defender can read the block scheme and fill the hole before the HB reaches the line.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs when you have a numbers advantage in the box, ideally 6 or fewer defenders against your 7 blockers.
Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for the Mike linebacker depth, if he is stacked tight expect a fast fill and be ready to bounce outside.
Use motion or an audible to shift the fullback if the defense shows an overload to the strong side, this forces the defense to declare its front before the snap.
Pair this with HB Lead Dive and HB Blast from the same set to keep the defense guessing between one-back power and true iso runs.
Mix in PA Boot Slide or PA Power O off this same look once the defense starts crashing hard on run fits, this punishes aggressive linebackers and safeties who key the fullback.
Vary your point of attack between B gap and bounce reads based on how the defensive tackles are shaded, do not get predictable with a single gap every snap.
