Playbooks
Breakdown
HB Counter Lead out of Shotgun Bunch TE is a power run play that pulls the backside guard to lead through the hole while the offensive line blocks down and creates a misdirection lane. The bunch alignment to the trips side puts three blockers in position to seal the edge or crack down on flowing linebackers, while the fullback or lead blocker isolates on the first defender through the hole. The primary read is the pulling guard's kick out block: follow his path and hit the crease inside or bounce outside depending on how the frontside defensive end and linebacker flow to the counter action.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth pre-snap, stacked or blitzing linebackers will struggle to diagnose the counter step and get sealed by the pulling guard. Identify if the defense is in a run-fit front like 4-3 or 46, these fronts can be vulnerable to the misdirection since flow defenders overrun the initial action. Look for defensive ends who crash down hard on the counter action, this opens a bounce lane outside if your ball carrier reads it correctly. Beware of a Mike linebacker who stays home or a defensive tackle who two-gaps, disciplined interior defenders can blow up the pulling guard's kick out block. Post-snap, track any user-controlled linebacker flowing to the play side, if he sits and reads instead of flowing with the counter step it usually signals a spy or a play diagnosed correctly, which should push you to bounce outside instead of forcing it inside.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest against the pass-heavy look of Bunch TE.
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box this counter hits hard against light fronts.
Use the pulling guard as your primary key and be patient, let the counter action develop instead of rushing the handoff.
Pair this with Bunch Levels or Mtn TE Corner from the same set so defenses cannot key run versus pass based on formation tendencies.
Against aggressive linebackers who crash hard on flow, bounce the run outside off the counter step to hit the alley before the safety can rotate down.
