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Breakdown
Mtn Power O is a downhill run play out of Strong I Wing Close with a fullback motion adjustment shown in the diagram, sending the FB in motion across the formation before the snap to adjust the point of attack. The blocking scheme pulls the backside guard around to lead through the hole while the fullback and offensive line create a wall to the strong side, giving the running back a designated crease to press before making his cut. This is a power gap run play, not a play-action or RPO look, and the primary read is the running back pressing the play side hole and reading the puller's block to decide whether to bounce outside or cut up inside the log block.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key the linebacker depth and whether they widen or shift toward the motion, since this tells you if you are in man or zone principles up front. Watch for a strong safety or slot defender cheating down into the box before the snap, which signals an eight man front designed to stop this power run. Post-snap, user the play side linebacker or edge defender to shoot the gap and disrupt the puller before he can seal the block, since blowing up the lead blocker kills this play at the mound. This run struggles against gap exchange fronts and defensive line stunts that clog the pulling lane, so look for defenses that slant or crash down hard to the strong side. If the defense shows a heavy run blitz with linebackers crashing downhill immediately at the snap, this play can get gashed for a loss, so recognize aggressive blitz packages and be ready to check to a quick pass instead.
Usage Tips
Use the FB motion pre-snap to bait linebackers into shifting or to identify if the defense is running with the motion, which tells you whether you are facing man or zone principles. If the defense stacks the box with 8 or more defenders before the snap, consider audibling to a play-action pass in this set like PA FB Flat or PA Sprint HB Flat to punish the aggression. Run this on early downs in normal distance situations such as first and ten or second and short where defenses are not selling out against the pass. Pair this with Mtn Double Slant in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the interior run gap and quick underneath passing to the same side. Trust the puller and stay patient behind the line, do not rush the cut before the lead blocker clears the hole since a premature cut with the ball carrier will cost yardage against gap sound fronts.
