Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Ace Power is a downhill gap run out of Singleback Doubles North with 11 personnel, showing the HB aligned behind the QB before angling to the strong side. The offensive line pulls to create a lead blocker through the power gap, with the TE and playside tackle sealing the edge while the backside guard pulls across the formation to lead the HB through the hole. This is a pure run play designed to attack a gap with numbers, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read progression is the HB reading the pulling guard's block first before deciding between the designated gap and a bounce outside if the alley is congested.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and linebacker alignment, if the defense stacks the box with an extra defender in the A or B gap the power concept will not have room to develop. Watch for a Mike linebacker who reads the pulling guard quickly, a fast flowing linebacker can beat the puller to the hole and blow up the play before the lead block is set. Man coverage on the perimeter with no extra run support usually means this play hits clean since the defense lacks numbers in the box. Defenses in a 46 front or heavy blitz packages with edge defenders crashing inside will collapse the power gap, forcing the HB to bounce outside where speed defenders can clean up. Post-snap, identify whether the defensive end squeezes down on the pulling guard, if he does the cutback lane behind the play side tackle often opens up for a big gain.
Usage Tips
Use HB Ace Power on early downs against defenses showing base fronts or light boxes, since the pulling guard needs room to work and gets swallowed against stacked six and seven man fronts.
Check the box count pre-snap and if the defense has an extra defender crashing downhill, consider audibling to HB Dive from the same set for a quicker hitting complement.
Pair this play with Jet Sweep or Zone Fake Jet from Doubles North to keep defenders honest on outside flow before coming back to the power concept, since the formation look stays identical and forces linebackers to hesitate.
On short yardage or goal line situations this play excels because the pulling blocker adds a numbers advantage at the point of attack, so save it for third and short or two point conversion attempts.
Watch for defenders keying the pulling guard immediately at the snap, if the linebacker flows hard to the play side gap be ready to cut the run back against the grain.
