Playbooks
Breakdown
QB Strong Power is a designed QB run out of Shotgun Trips TE that pulls the play side guard to lead block for the quarterback through the strong side gap. The three trips receivers stay uninvolved as decoys to hold defenders wide, while the offensive line steps down and blocks power scheme, sealing the edge for the QB to follow his puller downhill. This is a pure run play, not a pass or RPO, and the primary read is simply pressing the hole behind the pulling guard and cutting off the lead blocker's path based on how the edge defender and linebacker flow.
Defensive Reads
Watch the strong side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap, if they are sitting wide expecting outside contain, this play's inside power path will gash them. Identify whether the defense is running a one gap or two gap scheme up front, since two gap fronts with disciplined linebackers can plug the pulling guard's lane and blow this up. Key the safety depth and rotation, if the strong safety is creeping into the box pre-snap, that is a sign the defense is keying run and may have this play sniffed out. Post-snap, track the play side linebacker's first step, if he shoots the gap immediately instead of reading the puller, this indicates a run blitz that can beat this concept before the guard gets set. Look for user-controlled defenders spying the quarterback, since a disciplined spy can shut down the designed QB run element even if the blocking creates a clean lane.
Usage Tips
Call this on short yardage or goal line situations where defenses are stacking the box expecting a stretch or dive concept, since the pulling guard gives you a numbers advantage at the point of attack.
Check the defensive front pre-snap, if the strong side edge defender is crashing hard down the line, this play's blocking scheme can seal him inside for an explosive gain.
Pair this with Read Option or Speed Option from the same set to keep defenses honest, since all three plays start with similar QB alignment and force linebackers to respect multiple run gaps.
Use hot routes to check the trips receivers into quick screens or bubble routes if you see a heavy blitz look, turning this into a built-in answer against overloaded fronts.
Sequence this play after establishing HB Counter or Inside Zone earlier in the drive so linebackers bite on the initial run fake before you pull the guard for QB Strong Power.
