Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Counter out of Shotgun Trey Open Offset is a Power Run play with a 1 RB 1 TE personnel look. The line pulls the backside guard and tackle to lead through the hole while the play side blockers down block to seal the edge, creating a misdirection run lane. The RB takes a counter step away from the play call before following the pulling linemen through the crease, so the primary read is the play side double team at the point of attack, then the puller as the lead blocker to determine cutback versus getting north.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and alignment. Stacked or crashing linebackers on the play side tip that the defense is selling out to stop the counter action. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in the hole, since a disciplined defender reading the counter step can blow up the pulling guard before he gets to the point of attack. Odd fronts with a nose lined up over center tend to clog the interior lane this counter wants to use, forcing a bounce outside. Aggressive edge blitzes from the play side can beat this if the puller cannot get outside fast enough, so recognize a wide-nine or overload look pre-snap. Zone coverage shells with light boxes (two-high safeties, six or fewer in the box) are where this run hits hardest, since there is less immediate flow to the counter side.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest against your pass-heavy Trey Open Offset dressing.
Check the box count pre-snap. If the defense has fewer than six in the box, this counter scheme has a clean lane and should hit fast.
Use hot routes sparingly here since this is a designed run, but motion the offset back or check protection if you see a heavy blitz look creeping toward the play side.
Pair this with HB Off Tackle and Inside Zone from the same set so linebackers cannot key the pulling linemen and start flowing too early.
Once defenses start cheating a linebacker toward the counter action, hit them with RPO Peek Slant or PA Read from the same formation to punish the overcommitment.
