Playbooks
HB Power out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Pats is a gap scheme run play designed to pull the backside guard (and sometimes a tight end or fullback) across the formation to create a lead blocker at the point of attack. The offensive line down blocks to seal the interior while the puller kicks out the edge defender or leads through the hole for the linebacker, giving the HB a clear crease to press downhill. Primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the play side hole, read the puller's block on the first threat past the line of scrimmage, and decide between bouncing outside or cutting back based on how the linebackers flow.
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap: stacked or crashing linebackers signal a run blitz that can beat the puller before he reaches his target. Identify the strong safety's alignment, if he is sitting in the box near the trips side he can add a quick extra defender to the point of attack. Post-snap, key the puller's block, if he gets picked off by a fast flowing linebacker or an unblocked edge defender, the play is likely to get stuffed at or behind the line. User controlled defenders who shoot gaps aggressively can blow up this play, so if the human opponent consistently crashes down with a user defender, consider setting up misdirection or a counter look later in the drive. Nickel and dime packages with light boxes are the best matchups for this play since Power exploits fewer bodies at the line, while heavy fronts or run blitz calls with an extra linebacker crashing the play side gap tend to shut it down.
Run this out of the trips look on early downs when defenses are showing two high safeties or a light box to take advantage of numbers at the point of attack.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz or crashing gaps before the snap so you can identify the puller's path early.
If the defense shows a stacked box or an obvious run blitz, check to a quick game or RPO concept from this same set like Pats HB Screen or WR Screen to punish overaggressive fronts.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and HB Mid Draw in your call sheet to keep defenders guessing between gap and zone run schemes out of the same trips formation.
On third and short or goal line situations, trust the puller and stay patient behind the line rather than trying to bounce it outside too early.