Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Read Counter Bash is a run play out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close with 11 personnel that combines a counter blocking scheme with a bash read for the QB. The diagram shows the play design starting with counter action, the ball carrier pressing toward the play side before the design flows back opposite with the pulling linemen, with the green arrow indicating the read key for the QB to decide between keeping the ball or handing off on the bash action. This is a power run concept built to attack gap exchanges and create misdirection for the front seven, not a play-action or passing concept. The primary read progression is the QB reading the play side edge defender to decide whether to hand off the counter or pull it on the bash read.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap, if they are crashing inside hard on run downs this counter action is designed to hit off their aggression. Key the linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who fill fast against counter action can blow up the pulling guard's kick out block. If the defense shows a stacked box with safety help crashed down, this play loses its blocking numbers advantage and gets stopped at or before the line. User controlled defenders who stay disciplined and play the QB on the bash read (rather than crashing the running back) take away the pull option and force a tougher inside handoff read. Watch for backside pursuit from linebackers, disciplined backside contain defeats the misdirection element of the counter action.
Usage Tips
Use this out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close when you want to disguise run direction against aggressive front sevens that key on backfield action.
Check the play side edge defender pre-snap, if he is crashing hard down the line this is a green light to pull the ball on the bash read.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Power Read from the same set so defenses cannot sit on one run scheme and your pre-snap motion looks identical.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) when you want to stay balanced and keep the defense honest before dialing up RPO Peek Stick or RPO Zone Alert Omaha off the same look.
Avoid calling this against defenses stacked with extra defenders in the box unless you have a lead blocker angle advantage, since the counter blocking scheme needs numbers to work.
