Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Counter out of Singleback Toad X Nasty (11 personnel) is a power run play built to attack downhill with misdirection. The diagram shows the offensive line pulling to create a counter blocking scheme, with the fullback or pulling guard leading through the hole while the HB takes a counter step away from the play side before cutting back against the grain. This is a run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, so the primary read is the HB reading the pulling blockers and picking his gap based on how the defensive front flows to the initial counter step.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker gap discipline pre-snap, since disciplined backers who stay home in their gaps take away the cutback lane this play needs. Key on defensive end crash tendencies, as a hard crashing end can blow up the pulling blockers before they reach the point of attack. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the counter step, since this play is designed to exploit overpursuit and aggressive flow. Check safety depth and run support alignment pre-snap, since a safety sitting close to the box can rob the cutback lane and shut down the play. Recognize A gap or B gap blitzes pre-snap, since fast interior pressure can beat the pulling linemen to the hole before the HB commits.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at defensive line alignment to confirm the counter has a clean lane before the snap.
Identify overaggressive linebackers who bite on the counter step, since this play is designed to punish downhill flow and linebacker overpursuit.
Pair HB Counter with HB Power O and HB Dive from the same set to keep the defense guessing between different run schemes out of an identical formation look.
Set up HB Counter after a few passing plays like PA Post Dig or Y Trail to slow down linebacker reaction time and widen cutback lanes.
Avoid calling this against heavy blitz looks with fast flowing linebackers unless you can identify the blitz pre-snap and adjust your blocking assignments.
