Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Counter Y out of Shotgun U Off Trips is a 12 personnel power run scheme that pulls the backside linemen to lead the HB through the playside gap. The diagram shows the HB taking a counter step away from the play call before pressing back downhill behind the pulling guard and TE, with the trips receivers to the top of the screen simply stalk blocking or occupying the corners on the perimeter. This is a gap scheme run play, not a pass concept, and the primary read is the pulling lead blocker: the HB keys the kickout block at the point of attack and presses the hole until the blocker declares his path.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker fast flow to the trips side pre-snap, since disciplined defenses will scrape hard the moment they diagnose counter action and blow up the pulling lane. Look for a defensive end or edge player staying home on the backside instead of crashing, which forces the puller to adjust his kickout track and can slow the entire play down. An overloaded box with a safety walked down near the line signals this play could get met in the backfield, so consider checking to a pass concept instead. Track the play side linebacker depth: if he is sitting shallow and reading the backfield rather than reacting to receiver releases, he is likely scraping over the top to spill the counter. Man coverage on the perimeter with soft support inside usually gives this run room to work, while zone shells with disciplined linebacker gap integrity tend to shut it down quickly.
Usage Tips
Run this out of shotgun on early downs when defenses are stacking the box expecting trips formation pass concepts, since the misdirection step often freezes linebackers flowing to the trips side.
Check the defensive front pre-snap and bail if you see a stacked interior with an extra linebacker walked down into the A or B gap, since the counter lane can get clogged before the pullers arrive.
Pair this with PA Jet Cross or RPO Alert Bubble from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the run action once they start keying the pulling guards.
Use the initial counter step to manipulate user linebackers, then plant and press downhill hard once the kickout block seals the edge defender.
Best on second and short or first and ten when you want to keep the defense honest against the trips look while still moving the chains on the ground.
