Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Counter Y out of Shotgun Deuce Close is a gap scheme power run with the offensive line pulling to create a lead blocker through the counter hole. The diagram shows the backside guard and tackle pulling to kick out the edge defender and lead through the alley while the play side blocks down to seal the interior gap. This is a run play designed to attack aggressive downhill fronts and beat overpursuit from linebackers flowing hard to the initial flow. The primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the initial flow to sell the misdirection, then read the puller's kickout block and pick the crease off the lead blocker's path.
Defensive Reads
Key the backside defensive end and outside linebacker first, since they are the primary targets of the kickout block and their leverage tells the ball carrier where the crease opens. Watch for linebackers who diagnose counter quickly and flow hard downhill, as a fast flowing linebacker crashing the counter hole can blow up the pulling lane before the lead blocker gets there. Defenses playing a 4-3 under front with the strong safety cheating into the box tend to have an extra body to fill the counter lane, so expect a tighter window. Zone blitzes that send an extra rusher off the edge the counter is pulling toward can beat this play if the offense does not account for the extra man in protection. If the defense shows heavy slant or gap exchange calls, the counter action can actually create bigger cutback lanes since defenders are already displaced from their gaps.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick look at the linebacker depth to confirm they are playing downhill run fits before snapping this play. Attack fronts where the defensive front is flowing hard to one side, since Counter Y punishes overaggressive gap shooters and slanting fronts. Pair this play with Inside Zone and Outside Zone earlier in a drive so the misdirection actually freezes linebackers who have been keying zone flow all game. Run this on early downs in normal distance situations where defenses are not selling out against the run, ideally first or second and short to medium. If you see a 3-4 look with linebackers stacked tight, this play still hits because the pullers can adjust to kick out the extra edge defender.
