Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn HB Power O is a gap scheme run out of Singleback Wing Tight U that starts with HB motion across the backfield before the snap to bring the ball carrier into a mountain-style approach angle on the handoff. The blocking scheme pulls the backside guard and uses the wing tight end and fullback-type blocker to kick out the edge defender, creating a lead running lane through the play side B gap. This is a pure run play designed to overload the point of attack with double teams at the point of attack and a puller leading through the hole, not a play-action look or RPO. The primary read for the ball carrier is to press the play side double team, read the puller's block on the edge defender, and decide between the wall (inside cutback) and the kick (bouncing outside) based on how the second level linebacker flows.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker pre-snap since a wide 9 technique alignment tells you the kick block will have a longer path and may get beat, giving the offense an easy bounce outside. Check safety depth after the motion, if the strong safety rotates down into the box before the snap you are looking at an eight man front that can outnumber the double team at the point of attack. Key the play side linebacker's first step after the snap, if he fills hard into the B gap immediately he is reading the pulling guard and the cutback lane will open behind him. User the middle linebacker or play side backer with a spy or blitz assignment to attack the puller before he reaches the edge, which disrupts the timing of the kick block. This run struggles against gap exchange stunts on the play side, where the defensive end crashes inside and the linebacker loops outside, since it confuses both the double team and the pulling blocker's target.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety over the top, since that tells you whether the box is heavy enough to hold the edge defender for the kick block. Call this on early downs in run heavy personnel sets when you have already established Mtn HB Stretch or HB Inside Zone, since the motion look and pulling action create hesitation for defenders keying run fits. Against stacked boxes with 8 defenders in the box, hold off on this play and mix in Mtn PA Power O off the same motion to punish overaggressive linebacker flow. If the defense shows a hard edge defender crashing down before the puller arrives, hot route the wing tight end to log block instead of kicking out to seal the edge cleanly. Sequence this with HB Counter Str and 26 Duo from the same set to keep linebackers guessing on gap direction since all three plays share similar first step footwork for the ball carrier.
