Playbooks
Counter Y out of Shotgun Wide Slot Right WK is a Power Run concept that uses counter action to get the offensive line flowing one direction before the ball carrier cuts back against the grain. The blocking scheme pulls the backside guard (and often a tight end or fullback) across the formation to lead block at the point of attack, creating a natural running lane once the defense flows with the initial misdirection. This is strictly a run play with no pass option attached, so the primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the initial flow, read the pulling lead blocker, and decide whether to cut inside off the double team or bounce outside if the edge defender crashes down too hard.
Watch for a stacked box with eight defenders near the line of scrimmage, since this shell often defeats Counter Y before the snap even happens by outnumbering the blockers. Identify if the defense uses a 3-4 under front with a fast flowing weak side linebacker, as this look tends to diagnose and string out the counter action quickly. Look for user-controlled defenders spying the backfield or crashing down hard on the pulling guard, which signals the defense has scouted the counter tendency and will blow up the play at the mesh point. Post-snap, key the play side defensive end and linebacker leverage, since if they stay disciplined and do not overpursue the initial flow, the cutback lane will be minimal. Man coverage shells with Cover 1 or Cover 3 Man tend to leave extra defenders in the box, so expect a tougher run fit against man heavy calls compared to zone shells that spread linebackers wider.
Run this play on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and short) when the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders in the run fit, since counter needs numbers advantage to hit cleanly.
Check the defensive front pre-snap for overshifted alignments or a walked up linebacker on the play side, since a heavy edge presence can blow up the pulling guard's kick out block.
Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into flowing early, which widens the cutback lane for the ball carrier once the counter action develops.
Pair this play with Mtn RPO QB Power and Mtn RPO QB Draw from the same set to keep the defense guessing between gap scheme runs and RPO reads, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits.
User the lead blocker manually if you struggle with CPU AI blocking assignments, since manually controlling the puller lets you seal the most dangerous second level defender.