Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Counter out of Shotgun Flanker Close (10 personnel) is a power run play built to attack the backside with misdirection. The offensive line pulls the backside guard and tackle to lead the HB through the hole while the play action step sends the flow one way before the ball carrier cuts back against the grain. This is strictly a run play, no route concept or play-action pass option shown, and the primary read is the HB reading the pulling linemen to find the crease created by the down blocks before pressing the counter lane.
Defensive Reads
Key the backside defensive end and outside linebacker first, since a disciplined edge player who stays home can blow up the counter before the pullers arrive. Watch for linebackers reading the pulling guard and tackle quickly, as a fast flowing linebacker corps will erase the cutback lane. Look for user controlled defenders spying the backfield instead of biting on the initial flow, which shuts down the misdirection element completely. A stacked box with the Mike linebacker sitting instead of flowing hard is the biggest sign this run will get stopped for minimal gain. Against light boxes or defenses that overreact to flow, the counter action creates a natural cutback crease that this play is designed to exploit.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep defenses honest against a base front.
Check the defensive front pre-snap for overloaded numbers to the play side, since a heavy box can clog the counter lane before the pullers get set.
Use motion or a quick glance at the Mike linebacker to see if he is flowing hard playside, which tells you the cutback lane will be there.
Pair this with HB Sweep and Inside Zone from the same set so defenders cannot sit on one gap scheme and start jumping the counter action.
Avoid calling this on short yardage against stacked fronts with extra linebackers, since the misdirection needs some space to develop before the cutback.
