Counter· 11v11 Tackle

Name: XO Gridmaker
Availability: InStock

intermediateaka Counter Treyaka Counter GT

Misdirection run — back jab-steps strong, takes handoff going back weak behind pulling blockers.

The design

How Counter works

Misdirection run.
The back jab-steps strong-side to hold the LBs, then takes the handoff going BACK weak-side behind pulling blockers (typically the backside guard + tackle).
The 'counter' is the defense's pursuit moving the wrong way.
Best vs defenses that flow hard to initial back action.

Coach the details

: sell the run fake full speed on the drawn track; finish every rep as if you have the ball.
: counter — false step, then follow pullers to the back side.
: down block — drive your man INSIDE toward the playside gap, pin him so the pulling guard has a clean track.
: down block — drive your man INSIDE toward the playside gap, pin him so the pulling guard has a clean track.
: reach block playside — drive your man down the line, seal him inside.
: pull playside — kick out the first defender outside the tackle box.
: pull playside — get depth off the LOS, lead through the hole for the back.

Call sheet

Defensive lookAgainst an aggressive front that over-pursues to the back's initial step.
Game planThe misdirection at the snap pulls defenders away from the actual play side.
Game planMake the jab match the offense's best outside action and keep the pullers tight off the down blocks.
Game planIf the edge wrong-arms the kick-out, spill the ball wider behind the second puller; if he stays upfield, cut inside immediately.
Game planIn flag, replace pull blocks with routes that drag pursuit toward the false step.

Pre-snap to post-snap

Against an aggressive front that over-pursues to the back's initial step.
The misdirection at the snap pulls defenders away from the actual play side.
If the edge wrong-arms the kick-out, spill the ball wider behind the second puller; if he stays upfield, cut inside immediately.
The 'counter' is the defense's pursuit moving the wrong way.

Cover 0: Anything that develops slowly — pressure gets home first Better answers: Four Verticals, Mesh, Slant-Flat, Smash
Cover 1: Outside vertical shots — the free safety caps them over the top Better answers: Mesh, Drive, Smash, Y-Cross, Four Verticals, Levels
Cover 2: The flats — the corner squats and jumps anything quick outside Better answers: Smash, Four Verticals, Flood
Tampa 2: The deep middle — the Mike runs it, so a straight seam is contested (unlike base Cover 2) Better answers: Smash, Flood
Cover 3: Deep outside — the three-deep shell caps outside verticals Better answers: Curl-Flat, Slant-Flat, Smash, Flood, Four Verticals, Snag, Dagger, Stick
Cover 4: Deep shots — four deep defenders make it very hard to win over the top Better answers: Stick, Snag, Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Mesh

Troubleshooting

Avoid it against a slow-reading defense that is not flowing with the initial action, or when backside penetration will collide with the pulling path.
Misdirection only buys space when pursuit reacts; otherwise the delayed track gives the front time to close.
Fake step too lazy; defenders read it. Must be a hard one-step fake to sell the strong-side action.
Pulling blockers trip over each other (tackle); need clean pull-around timing — backside guard pulls first, tackle follows.
Back doesn't widen enough after the jab; the counter path should bend BEHIND the blockers' wash.