Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Power out of Wildcat Trips Over is a designed QB run with the ball starting in the shotgun-snap wildcat look, using pre-snap motion to bring a receiver across before the snap. The blocking scheme pulls extra gap protection to the point of attack off tackle, with the QB reading the edge and cutting downhill through the hole created by the pulling lineman and lead blocker. This is a run play built to attack gap integrity, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, so the primary read progression is the QB identifying the first unblocked defender off the edge and choosing to press the hole or bounce outside based on how the defensive front flows.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and whether the defense rotates a safety down into the box in response to the trips look, since a heavy box signals they expect the run. Watch linebacker alignment relative to the tight end and offensive tackle, since linebackers who stay square and don't overcommit to motion can fill the power lane quickly. Post-snap, key the play-side defensive end and outside linebacker first, since if they hold their gap and don't get pulled by the puller, the running lane collapses. This play struggles against gap-sound fronts with disciplined edge defenders who set the edge rather than crashing inside, and it gets stuffed by run blitzes that shoot the play-side A or B gap before the puller arrives. It hits big against defenses that overreact to jet motion or bite on the run fake toward the opposite side, so if you see linebackers flowing hard away from the call, expect a cutback lane.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing base personnel or subbing in extra DBs, since a slow defensive reaction to the motion tells you the box count favors the run. Call this on early downs or short yardage when you need a north-south gap runner and the defense has shown light boxes against Wildcat looks. Mix Power with Counter and Jet Sweep from this same set to keep the defense guessing on direction, since all three threaten different edges off similar formation window dressing. Watch for defenses that crash hard on jet motion, then counter with PA Jet Sweep or PA Jet Cross to hit the defense that overplays the run fake. Trust the pulling blocker and stay patient behind the line before making your cut, since Power lives and dies on the QB pressing the hole rather than bailing early.
