Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn HB Counter is a Power Run play out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that uses jet or fly motion across the formation before the snap to shift numbers and hold the play side defenders. The counter action sends the HB opposite the initial flow before he cuts back through a pulling guard and lead blocker, using misdirection to freeze linebackers and force them to flow the wrong way. This is a run play designed to beat aggressive downhill defenses and overpursuing linebackers, with the primary read being the play side alley and B gap as the HB reads his pulling blocker and picks the crease off the counter trap.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker and defensive end for over pursuit, if they crash hard toward the initial flow the cutback lane opens up immediately behind the pulling guard. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the hole or spying the backfield, since a disciplined defender who reads counter action can blow this play up before the puller gets there. Check safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating toward the motion man's side signals man coverage rotation and leaves the counter lane less crowded. Look for defensive tackles with gap discipline who stay home and do not chase the flow, since those fronts clog the counter trap and force the HB to bounce outside where speed backers can rally. Identify if the defense sends extra run blitz pressure off the edge opposite the counter action, since that pressure can beat the pulling guard to the point of attack and negate the misdirection.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone, if defenders run with the motion man it is a strong indicator of man coverage and the counter should still hit if the front does not shift. Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box this play has a numbers advantage and should be an automatic run. Run this on early downs like first and second and ten to stay ahead of the sticks and set up play action later in the series. Pair this with Mtn PA PoCo Slide or Mtn PA Boot off the same Wing formation and personnel to keep linebackers honest since the play action looks identical out of the same alignment. Avoid calling this against defenses showing heavy blitz looks with linebackers crashing downhill pre-snap since the counter needs time to develop and can get blown up by fast flowing edge pressure.
