Playbooks

Counter Y

Shotgun·Bunch·11

Counter Run Play Power Run

Play diagram for Counter Y from Shotgun Bunch in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Counter Y out of Shotgun Bunch is a power run concept designed to hit off tackle with a counter blocking scheme. The bunch alignment to one side pulls extra numbers toward the point of attack, with the play side guard and tackle influencing down before the counter action redirects the HB against the grain. This is a run play, not a pass concept, and the primary read is the play side double team at the point of attack, with the HB reading the pulling blocker to decide between bouncing outside or cutting up inside the alley.

Defensive Reads

Key the play side linebacker depth before the snap, since a linebacker sitting too close to the line of scrimmage will get sealed by the counter pull and open a cutback lane. Watch for edge defenders crashing hard down inside, which is exactly what this counter scheme wants to happen since it creates the bounce outside running lane. Identify if the defense is in a run blitz or gap exchange front, since defenders crossing gaps can blow up the counter timing before the pulling blocker gets to the point of attack. Look for safeties cheating down into the box pre snap, which signals run support and should push you toward the cutback rather than the designed bounce. If the defense shows heavy pursuit flow to the counter action snap to snap, mix in Reverse or HB Sweep from this same formation to punish overcommitted linebackers and secondary defenders.

Usage Tips

Run this out of Shotgun Bunch when the defense shows a light box or has rotated safeties away from the play side, since the counter action exploits over aggressive linebackers flowing to the initial guard pull. Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest and set up misdirection later in the drive. Motion the bunch receiver pre snap to check for man coverage, since a defender following the motion confirms man and tells you the edge defender will likely be occupied by the counter blocking rather than reading run fits cleanly. Pair this with Reverse and Fake Reverse from the same bunch set so linebackers who key on the counter pull get punished by the reverse action later in the game. Sequence this with Inside Zone and Read Option to keep the defensive line guessing between gap and zone run fits, which slows down defensive line get off and widens cutback lanes for Counter Y.