Playbooks

Power Read

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Wk·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Y Off Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Vikings OffenseOffense NFL Live Vikings OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Power Read is a Shotgun run play built around a power blocking scheme with a true read element for the quarterback, making it a core option run rather than a designed pass or screen. The offensive line pulls the backside guard to lead through the hole while the QB reads the play side edge defender to decide between handing off to the HB on the power path or pulling it himself outside. The primary read progression is the edge defender: crash inside means the QB pulls and attacks the alley, stay home or squeeze means the HB gets the handoff and follows the pulling guard through the interior gap.

Defensive Reads

Identify the play side defensive end or OLB alignment before the snap, a wide 9 technique alignment tells you the edge is begging to be read on the keep. Watch for a crashing DE or scrape exchange linebacker post snap, aggressive crash defenses get gashed by the QB keep to the alley. Check safety depth and count the box, a light box with only six or seven defenders favors the handoff read while a stacked eight man front favors pulling the ball. Beware disciplined defenses that stay home on the edge and force a slow developing power run, since this removes the explosive keep option and turns it into a straight power run against a set front. Watch for user controlled linebackers flying downhill on the snap, since a smart user defender can blow up the pulling guard and kill the play before the mesh point develops.

Usage Tips

Run this out of 11 personnel on early downs when you want to stay balanced and keep the defense honest against your pass sets in this Normal Y Off Wk set.

Check the defensive end or outside linebacker on the play side before the snap, if he is crashing hard on run downs almost every play he is a bad flow read for the defense and a great candidate to keep the ball on the edge.

Use the QB run threat here to set up RPO Power Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Read Bubble later in the drive, since the same backfield action forces linebackers to respect both the run and the bubble screen.

Pair Power Read with Inside Zone and Fk Leak Outside Zone in your play calling script so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme, then hit them with Mtn PA Spot or PA Slide off the same run action once they start cheating up.

Favor this play on second and short or third and short, and avoid calling it into stacked boxes with extra defenders inside since the interior lanes get congested fast.