Playbooks

HB Counter

Shotgun·Y Trips Wk·11

Counter Run Play Power Run

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetY Trips Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Elites OffenseOffense Sim Multirolepersonnel Rn OffenseOffense Sim Volumedistribution Ph OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Counter out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk is a power run play that pulls the backside guard (and sometimes a tackle or fullback-type blocker) across the formation to lead through the hole while the HB takes a counter step away from the flow before cutting back. This is a gap scheme run designed to attack overaggressive linebackers and slanting defensive lines by using misdirection, so the primary read progression starts with the pulling blocker identifying the first threat off the edge, then the HB reading that block to decide between bouncing outside or cutting up inside the pulling lineman. It is not a man or zone beater in the passing sense since it is a pure run concept, but it punishes defenses that flow hard to the play call or fire off the snap without respecting counter action.

Defensive Reads

Watch the defensive line alignment pre-snap for a 9-technique or wide 4i, since that tells you the edge defender will likely crash and open the cutback lane. Identify linebacker depth before the snap: stacked or blitzing linebackers can beat counter to the point of attack before the puller arrives. Post-snap, key the play-side end and outside linebacker reaction, if they sit and read instead of attacking upfield they can string the play out and force a negative gain. User-controlled defenders sitting in the backfield as a spy or lurking on the cutback lane are the biggest threat to this play since they erase the misdirection advantage. Base fronts and even fronts with two-gapping defensive tackles tend to shut this down quickly, so avoid calling counter into heavy or bear front looks that clog the pulling lane.

Usage Tips

Run this out of 11 personnel when the defense shows a wide 9-technique or aggressive edge rushers who crash hard upfield, since counter thrives on defenders overrunning the play. Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into flowing early, then let the counter action freeze them for a cleaner cutback lane. Pair HB Counter with Same Side Zone and HB Mid Zone in the same drive so defenders cannot key on gap versus zone blocking, forcing linebacker hesitation on every snap. On third and short or first and ten, call this after establishing a few passing plays like Curls or Stick from Y Trips Wk so the defense is not stacked in the box. If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, consider hotting the HB into a check release rather than committing to the full counter action since backside pursuit can blow it up before the puller gets there.