Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 15 playbooks
Breakdown
Counter Strong out of Singleback Wing Tight Nasty is a power run play built to attack the strong side edge with a pulling guard and lead blocker. The offensive line down blocks to seal the point of attack while the backside guard and fullback (or extra blocker in the wing) pull around to kick out the edge defender and lead through the hole. The HB takes a counter step away from the play before pressing back downhill through the designed cutback lane, making this a run play designed to punish overaggressive gap shooters and light boxes rather than a pass concept.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is stacked in a run-heavy front with extra linebackers or defensive linemen, since Counter Strong loses value against six and seven man fronts with disciplined gap integrity. Key the backside defensive end and 3-technique post-snap, if they stay home and do not crash down the counter blockers have nothing to kick out and the play dies in the backfield. Watch the play side linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is stacked tight to the line he can blow up the pulling blockers before they get to the point of attack. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing hard to the initial flow direction, aggressive user pursuit to the backfield action is a green light for the cutback lane to open up. Against Cover 3 or Cover 1 run support with safeties crashing downhill fast, this play struggles because it removes a blocker from the count before the counter blockers arrive.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only trust this call into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the counter action needs numbers to work.
Watch for the play side defensive end and 3-technique crashing hard, that misdirection is exactly what this play is designed to exploit if the counter step sells properly.
Use manual controls on your pulling blockers if a linebacker is scraping fast to the play side, chip the free hitter before releasing to the second level.
Pair this with HB Inside Zone and Duo in your play-calling sequence so defenders start keying downhill gap shots, then hit them with the counter bounce for a bigger cutback lane.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short to medium) when defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts instead of sub packages built to stop the counter.
