Playbooks
Breakdown
Power O out of Strong I H Tight Close is a gap-scheme run play built to overload the point of attack with a pulling guard and lead blocker. The fullback leads through the hole while the backside guard pulls to kick out the edge defender or wrap up on the first linebacker to show, creating a designed lane between the tackle and tight end. This is a pure run play with no pass option, designed to beat base fronts and light boxes by using double team blocks at the point of attack combined with the puller to seal off second level defenders. The primary read for the HB is to press the hole, read the pulling guard's block, and decide between the A gap crease or bouncing outside if the edge gets kicked out.
Defensive Reads
Look for a stacked box with two safeties creeping down into run support, that alignment signals the defense is sitting on gap runs like Power O. If the defensive line is slanting hard to the play side, the pulling guard's kick out block gets disrupted and this run gets blown up before it develops. Watch the weak side linebacker's first step at the snap, if he flows fast and fills the A gap immediately he is reading the pulling guard and taking away the primary lane. A user-controlled defender spying the fullback or crashing down hard off the edge is the biggest threat to this play, since it removes both blockers responsible for creating the hole. Cover 1 or Cover 3 with an extra man in the box shuts this down completely, while light boxes out of Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells give the fullback and puller room to work.
Usage Tips
Run this out of a normal personnel look on early downs when the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders in the run fit. Check the middle linebacker's depth before the snap, if he is sitting at five yards or closer he can beat the puller to the hole so consider checking to a bounce concept or motioning the fullback to adjust the angle. Use the fullback as your eyes, let the pulling guard's block dictate whether you press inside or bounce it outside the tackle box. Pair this with Counter Weak and HB Misdirection from the same set so the defense cannot sit on one gap scheme, the mirrored action from the backfield keeps linebackers guessing on flow direction. Save this for second and short or first and ten situations where you want to establish tempo and set up PA Power O later in the drive off the same look.
