Playbooks

HB Counter

Shotgun·Normal Y Off·11

Counter Run Play Power Run

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Y Off

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Franchise HS Spread OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Counter out of Shotgun Normal Y Off is a power run play that pulls the backside guard (and sometimes a tackle or fullback-replacement TE) across the formation to lead block for the HB after a counter step, creating a misdirection look that punishes overaggressive linebackers flowing to the initial fake. The line uses a down block and kickout scheme up front, with the playside tackle and TE sealing the edge while the puller turns up into the hole at the second level. This is a run-first design meant to attack gap integrity: the primary read is the puller's kickout block on the edge defender, and if that block wins, the HB presses the hole and reads the puller's lead block on the second-level defender to decide cutback versus downhill.

Defensive Reads

Check the linebacker depth before the snap: if both backers are sitting tight to the line in run-fit alignment, the defense may be keyed on run and can blow up the counter's timing. Watch the defensive end or edge rusher assigned to the counter side. If he sits and reads instead of crashing down, he can string the play out before the puller arrives. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with safeties rotated down into the box since a heavy run support safety can beat the puller to the second-level lead block. Look for a user-controlled defender flashing into the backside gap immediately after the snap, which signals a defender diagnosing the counter action instead of biting on the fake. Man coverage looks with linebackers turned to match receivers out of the backfield are ideal since those backers are late to react to the counter step and slow to fill the alley.

Usage Tips

Run this out of 11 personnel when the defense shows a light box (six or fewer defenders) since the counter action exploits linebackers flowing hard to initial flow.

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into shifting, then snap it to freeze them before the counter step even develops.

Pair this with Inside Zone and Same Side Zone earlier in a drive so defenders start keying zone track steps, then hit them with Counter to punish their downhill aggression.

On third and short or second and medium, call this against defenses that showed man coverage or Cover 1 the previous snap since those fronts often bring an extra run blitzer that the counter's kickout block can trap and remove from the play.

User the pulling blocker briefly at the snap to ensure he squares up the first free hitter off the edge, then release control back to the HB for the cutback read.

Avoid calling this into stacked run fronts with a jammed 4-3 look since the extra gap defender can beat the puller to the hole before the counter fully develops.