Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Power O out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Close is a gap scheme run play built to create a numbers advantage at the point of attack. The play diagram shows the backside guard pulling across the formation to lead through the hole while the offensive line down blocks in unison, sealing the frontside gaps and creating a wall for the puller to work behind. The HB takes a slight lead step before pressing downhill off the pulling guard's hip, reading the down blocks first and then keying the puller's block to decide whether to bend the run outside or stick it up inside the hole.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker's fill technique before the snap, since Power O is designed to be gap sound against downhill blitzes but vulnerable to a well-timed A-gap shoot. Watch the play side defensive end: if he stays disciplined and reads the down block instead of crashing, he can string the play out for a user linebacker to clean up. Identify one-gap penetrating fronts like a 46 or Bear front pre-snap, since those alignments can blow up the pulling guard's path before he ever gets to the hole. Spy the backside linebacker's pursuit angle, since fast flow defenders who overrun the play create natural cutback lanes for the HB. Man coverage shells with an extra hat in the box (Cover 1 or Cover 0) put the most bodies in the run fit and are the toughest look for this play, while single-high zone shells with light boxes give the pulling guard a cleaner runway.
Usage Tips
Run this out of shotgun on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest against your pass-heavy Y Off Trio Close dropback game. Check the box count pre-snap: if the defense has six or more in the box against 11 personnel, consider audibling to a quick game pass instead. Use motion sparingly here since the pulling guard action is already telegraphed by personnel, so disguise this call by running it out of the same personnel as Mtn Inside Zone and PA Power Shallow Cross to keep linebackers guessing. Pair this with Mtn PA X Over or PA Power Shallow Cross later in a series once defenders start crashing down hard on the pulling guard, since the play-action off Power looks identical pre-snap. Attack the play side edge if the defensive end squeezes hard inside, and cut it back if the backside pursuit overruns the pulling guard's track.
