Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Counter Y out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Close is a gap scheme power run that pulls blockers across the formation to create a lead crease for the HB. The diagram shows the offensive line down blocking at the snap while the backside guard and tackle pull around to kick out the edge defender and lead through the hole, with the HB taking a counter step before pressing the pulling blockers' path. This is a run play with no route combos shown, so the primary read is simply the HB following the pulling linemen and reading the kick out and lead blocks to decide between the B-gap crease or bouncing outside if the edge gets sealed.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers keying the pulling guard and tackle immediately, if they diagnose counter fast and flow with the pullers they can spill it and blow up the play in the backfield. Aggressive edge defenders who crash down hard on the down blocks give the kick out blocker a clean angle, so a disciplined edge defender who stays square is what shuts this down. Check safety depth pre-snap, if a safety is sitting close to the box in run support he can fill the alley quickly once he reads the pulling linemen. User the play side linebacker or a lurking defender to attack the pulling guard's block point before the lead blocker gets to the hole, this disrupts the timing counter runs depend on. Watch for defensive line stunts and games since a well timed swim or slant from the interior can beat the down blocks before the pullers even arrive, killing the play at the mesh point.
Usage Tips
Run Counter Y against defenses showing light boxes or when linebackers are flowing hard to one side pre-snap since the misdirection punishes overpursuit.
Use it on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium, to stay ahead of the chains without tipping pass intent.
Pair it with Mtn Inside Zone and Power O from this same set so linebackers cannot key run direction off formation alone, forcing them to respect multiple gap schemes.
Motion the H-back or check the box count pre-snap and if the defense is stacked with an extra man in the box, bail to Mtn RPO Alert Swing or a quick game concept like Quick HB Mtn Spacing instead.
Take the user-controlled defender's flow into account before the snap, if he is cheating hard to the play side gap, consider audibling the HB run direction or switching to Outside Zone to bounce away from his leverage.
