Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Power O out of Singleback Wing Tight Z is a gap scheme run play designed to pull the backside guard through the hole while the fullback or wing lead blocks for the running back. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down to the play side with a puller working across the formation to kick out or seal the edge defender, and the running back taking a slight lead step before pressing downhill off the double team. This is a straight power run play, not a play-action or RPO, and the primary read progression starts with the pulling blocker, then bounces to the natural cutback lane if the alley fills fast.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and shade because a stacked box or a linebacker cheating toward the play side tells you the power run is anticipated. Watch for a 4-3 under front or heavy run blitz package since extra defenders filling the play side gap can blow up the pulling guard before he reaches the hole. Post-snap, key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker to see if they squeeze down hard, which opens the cutback lane for the running back. Man coverage on the perimeter with safeties rotated down into the box is the biggest threat to this play since it removes the numbers advantage at the point of attack. Light boxes with safeties staying high in a two high shell against base personnel are where this play hits hardest because the puller gets a clean angle on the second level defender.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz so you can identify the fit before the snap.
Run this on early downs like first and second and ten when defenses are still respecting balanced personnel out of Singleback.
Pair HB Power O with PA Power O in the same set so the linebackers have to respect both the run fit and the play-action rollout off identical blocking action.
If the defense loads the box with an extra defender, hot route the wing or tight end into a quick chip release to slow down an edge blitzer before he can blow up the pulling guard.
Combine with HB Counter Wk and HB Counter U later in a series so the defense cannot sit on the same guard pull direction snap after snap.
