Playbooks
Counter Bash is a run play out of Shotgun Wing Trips WK that combines classic counter blocking with the Bash (back away shift) concept, pulling the backside guard and tackle to lead the ball carrier through the hole while the running back aligns opposite the play flow to sell misdirection. This is a run play, not a play-action or RPO, and the blocking scheme relies on the pulling linemen to wall off the edge and create a lane for the counter run action. The primary read progression is one and done for the ball carrier: identify the pulling guard's kick out block on the edge defender, then read the fullback or lead blocker's path to decide whether to press the hole inside or bounce it outside.
Look for a light box pre-snap with six or fewer defenders in the run fit, since Counter Bash struggles against eight man fronts Check linebacker depth and alignment, if the linebackers are sitting tight to the line in run support this play will get clogged before the pullers can get outside Watch for a defensive end or edge defender crashing hard inside, which can blow up the counter action before the puller reaches the point of attack Man coverage shells with aggressive nickel or Sam blitz packages are the biggest threat since a fast flowing linebacker can beat the puller to the edge Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with a light box are ideal matchups since the second level defenders are reading their zones instead of crashing downhill on the counter action
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the linebacker depth to confirm the defense is not sitting in a heavy run blitz look before snapping this play
Attack odd fronts and light boxes since the counter action with pulling linemen struggles against gap-exchange stunts and overloaded fronts
Pair Counter Bash with PA Power Y Pop or PA Inverted Veer from the same set so the defense has to respect both the counter run look and the play-action off similar backfield action
Call this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and set up later play-action shots
If the defense shows a shifted front or crashes the edge defender hard, hot route the fullback or use manual controlled blocking to adjust the kick out assignment before the snap
Save this play for base personnel fronts with light boxes, since a stacked box or extra defender at the line negates the pulling lineman's angle