Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Counter Y is a Power Run play out of Shotgun Y Off Trips, 11 personnel, with the trips receivers running off their defenders to clear the perimeter while the offensive line executes a classic counter blocking scheme. The play side guard and tackle pull to lead through the hole, with the fullback or H back kicking out the edge defender to create a running lane. This is a gap scheme run designed to attack downhill after a counter step from the running back, and it beats aggressive fronts that flow hard to the initial action.
Defensive Reads
Watch pre-snap alignment of the defensive ends and outside linebackers, since a wide 9 technique or crashing edge defender can blow up the kick out block before the puller arrives. Read linebacker depth at the snap, since linebackers who step up hard into the initial flow of the counter step get cut off from the cutback lane. Man coverage on the trips side actually helps this run since it pulls extra attention away from the box, but zone shells with a sky safety rotated down can add a fast flowing defender to the point of attack. Look for a Mike linebacker or nano blitz package that shoots the play side gap immediately, since that pre-snap blitz indicator can override the counter blocking assignment and force a cutback read. Post snap, key the pulling guard's block target, if he is forced to redirect due to a fast flowing linebacker, the running back needs to bounce it outside rather than trust the designed hole.
Usage Tips
Run this out of Y Off Trips when the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders inside the tackles, since the counter action punishes overpursuit from linebackers.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard play fake with the running back to bait linebackers into flowing away from the actual play side before the guard and tackle pull.
Pair this with HB Counter and Duo earlier in a drive so the defense commits to fast flow, then hit them again with Counter Y once they start keying the mesh point.
Best called on early downs, especially 1st and 10 or 2nd and short, when you want positive yardage without exposing the QB to a called pass drop.
If the defense shows a stacked box or shows blitz off the edge, hot route the fullback to adjust his kick out target or check to a play-action shot like PA Y Flood to punish the aggression.
