Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Counter is a Power Run out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset with 12 personnel, and the diagram shows a counter blocking scheme with the offensive line pulling from left to right while the HB takes a counter step before following the pullers through the designed hole. The wing and slot alignment gives extra gap support on the play side, with the TEs and wing sealing the edge and kicking out defenders to create the counter lane. This is a run play with a clear primary read on the play side puller: identify the first color you see through the hole, hitting it downhill once the kick out and lead blocks clear the alley.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, since stacked or downhill linebackers can beat the pullers to the point of attack before the counter blockers get set. Identify if the defense is running a nano blitz off the edge, which can disrupt the counter timing and force a negative play if the puller cannot reach the block. Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, since disciplined edge defenders who stay home on the counter can blow up the kick out block. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the initial play action, as a disciplined user defender who reads the pulling linemen can fill the alley and cut off the HB. Check safety alignment before the snap, since a safety cheating into the box against 12 personnel signals run support that can outnumber the counter blocking scheme.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage to keep defenses honest against your play-action shots from the same set.
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check if the defense is showing an odd front that funnels the counter action into extra bodies at the point of attack.
Use motion if available to identify man versus zone before the snap, since a defender running with the motion man confirms man coverage and opens up your RPO tags in this set.
Pair Mtn Counter with Dbl Mtn Split Zone or Inside Zone Split from the same formation so defenses cannot key on the counter action or overcommit their linebackers downhill.
Hit the hole with patience behind the pullers rather than rushing, since the blocking scheme needs a beat to develop before the alley opens.
