Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Power O out of the Pro Split Backs 21 personnel set is a gap scheme run play designed to pull the backside guard and kick out the point of attack with the fullback lead blocker, creating a numbers advantage at the hole. The diagram shows the fullback leading through the hole with the HB following the blocking path behind the pulling guard, while the offensive line combo blocks down at the point of attack to seal the edge. This is a pure run play with no route concepts to beat man or zone coverage, so the primary read progression is the HB reading the fullback's kick out block first, then working off the pulling guard to find the crease created by the down blocks.
Defensive Reads
Watch for even fronts with two down linemen shaded to the play side since Power O is designed to overpower that side with double teams A stacked box with eight or more defenders and linebackers creeping to the line pre-snap signals the defense is sitting on the run and will blow up the pulling guard User the play side linebacker or Sam backer and key the fullback's block, if he tries to spill the kick out block instead of taking it head on he can blow up the play in the backfield Cover 1 or Cover 3 with an extra hat in the box is the toughest shell to run Power O against since it removes the numbers advantage the scheme relies on Watch for a fast flowing middle linebacker who reads the pulling guard quickly, that is the primary threat to string the play out and force a cutback with no lane
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only run Power O into light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box since the pulling guard needs room to work
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and keep the defense guessing between run and pass
Motion the fullback or shift the backfield pre-snap to bait linebackers into showing blitz or run fits before the snap
Pair Power O with HB Off Tackle and FB Belly from the same Pro Split Backs set so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme or launch point
If the defense is stacking the box against Power O, switch to Curl Flat or Slants out of the same formation to make them respect the pass first
