Playbooks

Counter Y

Shotgun·Normal Off Close Wk·11

Counter Run Play Power Run

Play diagram for Counter Y from Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Off Close Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 6 playbooks

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Breakdown

Counter Y is a Shotgun power run play out of 11 personnel that pulls the backside linemen across the formation to create a lead blocker at the point of attack. The diagram shows the RB taking a counter step away from the play side before receiving the handoff and following the pulling guard through the hole, with the TE and offensive line executing down blocks to seal the interior. This is strictly a run play with no route concept attached, and the primary read progression is press read first (find the pulling lineman's kick out block), then decide between the A gap crease or bouncing outside if the edge is sealed.

Defensive Reads

Watch for stacked run fits with linebackers reading gaps quickly, since disciplined defenses that stay home in their gaps will blow up the counter action before the puller reaches the hole. Nickel and dime packages with lighter boxes are prime targets for this play because there are fewer bodies to fill run lanes. Key on the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they crash down hard on the counter step you can bounce it outside, but if they sit and read they will string it out. User controlled defenders flowing hard to the ball can be baited by the counter step, so patience on the read is critical against aggressive human defenders. Man coverage shells with blitzing linebackers can be deadly against this play since a blitzer shooting the backside gap can blow up the pulling lineman before he gets to the point of attack.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage when defenses are showing base fronts or light boxes with six or fewer defenders. Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for overloaded fronts or a shifted linebacker toward the play side, since that signals the counter action may get blown up before the puller can get outside. Use the hole shift or run blocking adjustment if you see extra defenders stacked to the play side. Pair this with Inside Zone Split and Mtn Outside Zone in your play calling sequence so defenses cannot key on one run direction and have to respect multiple gap schemes. Save this for situations where you have already established zone runs, since the counter action punishes overaggressive linebackers flowing hard to zone reads.