Power/Counter Run Game – Part 1 Weakside Power

    Take a look at Stanford, Wisconsin, Auburn, and Boise states' offenses (along with countless others in high school, college, and the NFL). What do these teams have in common in the run game? All 4 establish the running game through the off tackle hole with gap scheme runs (power/counter), al be it each has their subtle differences.

    For me power/counter (gap schemes) are a valuable tool in our offense because the scheme is adaptable and multiple. We have multiple tags and variations off our gap scheme run plays with little to no variance to our offensive lineman's rules for the play. This is the ultimate goal of our entire offense. Be as multiple as possible, without major change to the blocking rules of our offensive lineman. We want those guys to have very little to think about other than whipping the defense's ass.
    To start with I must clarify between the two gap schemed plays we have:

• We have a weakside gap scheme family that we classify as the 50's. All the 50's tell our offensive line is that it is a gap scheme and all frontside doubles go to the "Mike Box" (explained in figure 1). This concept is essential in being effective in communicating to your offensive line as to who they are working there double teams to (a key point I first heard from Russ Grimm). You can't classify weak side power/counter (any power that does not have the TE blocking down) as the same blocking rules as Strong side power/counter (any power blocking scheme with the TE blocking down). The fact of it is the offensive line responsibility is different and it should be called so. Instead of asking our offensive line to remember "on weakside power you double the 3 to mike" we tell them in the play with the 50's series.
  
   
• Secondly we have our 60's series which means we are running strong side power (as mentioned before that is a power/counter play with the TE blocking down). This means any Frontside double team not involving the TE will work to the "Will Box" (explained in Figure 1)

Labeling The Defense For The 50's and 60's:

(Figure 1)


Defining The LB Boxes (Fig. 1) –

• The idea behind labeling LB's areas instead of people is simple. This allows for variation in defensive alignment. The player physically located in the "Sam Box" could be a drop down safety. If we just told the guard to pull for the Sam linebacker there is a potential for miscommunication.

1. Sam Box – The Sam box is the first defensive player aligned playside of the center.
2. Mike Box –The Mike box is the first defensive player aligned head up to backside of the center.
3. Will Box – The Will box is the second linebacker head up to backside of the center.

Line Calls –
    The Last thing we need to touch upon before getting into our diagrams and responsibilities are our frontside double team line calls –

Single – Double team between the Center and Guard
Double – Double team between Guard and Tackle
Triple – Double team between Tackle and TE


50 Kick –
Now that we have covered a little bit why I like the gap scheme run game, and how we ID the linebacker areas I will go into our first gap play. We will start with the weakside power game, beginning with the 50 (53/54) kick play (Figure 2).


I personally like the 50 kick play vs. pre-inverted cover 3 (like running away from the strong).

(Figure 2)


Rules:
PST: Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 to Mike Box
PSG:Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 To Mike Box, Down on any Gap Defender
Center: Away, On, Backer – "Cat" (Center and Tackle) Vs. B.S. 3 Tech
BSG: Pull and lead on "Sam Box" – Hug double team tight and fill first open window, Inside Out To Sam.
BST: Gap, Down, Hinge
BSTE: Cut Off "Sam Box"
FB: Insert into line of scrimmage and make left hand turn. If DE squeezes – capture outside edge and Log
TB: Search step (drop step with off leg – Allows timing with B.S. Guard, and allows for TB to get down hill). Find first open window reading from A gap out.


50 Arc –
By definition this is not a weakside power play, however it is in the 50's family because the TE is not going to block down, instead the TE will arc (hence the tag) and block the support player.


*Note: Arc is a play I like against 6/7 (inside eye/head up) techniques on the TE. We are hoping the arc release will influence the DE to widen and allow for an easier kick by the fullback.

Rules:
PST: Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 to Mike Box
PSG:Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 To Mike Box, Down on any Gap Defender
Center: Away, On, Backer – "Cat" (Center and Tackle) Vs. B.S. 3 Tech
BSG: Pull and lead on "Sam Box" – Hug double team tight and fill first open window, Inside Out To Sam.
BST: Gap, Down, Hinge
TE: Arc Release and Block Support defender
FB: Insert into line of scrimmage and make left hand turn. If DE squeezes – capture outside edge and Log
TB: Search step (drop step with off leg – Allows timing with B.S. Guard, and allows for TB to get down hill). Find first open window reading from A gap out.


50 Counter:
The last 50's run I am going to discuss is the counter play. The counter is an easy add and only changes 3 people. The Fullback, B.S. Guard, and Tail Back.

Rules:
PST: Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 to Mike Box
PSG:Gap, Down, Backer – Double 3/2 To Mike Box, Down on any Gap Defender
Center: Away, On, Backer – "Cat" (Center and Tackle) Vs. B.S. 3 Tech
BSG: Pull and Kick E.M.O.L. – Pull into line of scrimmage
BST: Gap, Down, Hinge
TE: Block Will box
FB: Lead on Sam Box
TB: Single Jab Step, Come under QB – Find open window from A Gap Out


Conclusion –
I have only touched upon our weakside power/counter game, as well as our gap scheme plays in general. I plan on posting 4 more times on this topic –
Next:
Strong Side Gap Scheme
Gap Scheme Plays Involving The QB as A Runner
Play Action Pass Of Gap Scheme Plays
Stanford/Wisconsin SL/EZ Cut – Ups


Hopefully you got something out of this (or else I wasted some time) and hopefully you will stay tuned for the following posts.