Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Power O out of Shotgun Wing Stack is a gap-scheme run play built to attack a designated hole with a pulling blocker. From the diagram, the offense lines up in a 12 personnel Wing Stack look with two receivers stacked wide left and a tight formation of TEs and linemen to the right, with the RB offset in the backfield next to the QB. The red arrow shows the ball carrier taking a downhill path off the puller through the play side B or C gap, with the offensive line down blocking and a lead blocker kicking out the edge defender. This is a run play designed to beat light boxes and overpursuing linebackers, and the primary read is the play side double team and puller, with the back reading the kick out block before deciding to bounce or bang it inside.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the Mike linebacker and count the box, if the defense stacks 7 or more in the box with both safeties down, expect this run to get blown up and consider audibling to a pass. Watch for a 3 or 4 technique defensive lineman shaded into the play side gap, as this can beat the down block and force a negative play if the lead blocker whiffs. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's fill speed, a fast-flowing Mike who beats the puller to the hole is the biggest threat to this concept. User-controlled defenders spying the B gap or crashing down hard off the edge can blow up the kick out block, so be ready to bounce the run outside if you see this. This run struggles against gap-exchange stunts and slanting fronts that cross the down block assignments, so avoid calling it against aggressive blitz-heavy defenses without a hot route or protection check.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only run Power O into 6 or fewer defenders in the box to avoid a numbers disadvantage.
Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz so you can identify if the play side gap will be clogged.
Hot route the backside TE into a shallow drag or stick concept on obvious passing downs disguised as this run look, since the Wing Stack alignment sells run action well.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Read Option from the same set so the defense has to respect both gap and zone run schemes without changing your formation tendency.
Best used on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and medium) when you want to establish tempo and set up play action shots like PA Read or PA Curl Post later in the drive.
