Football Library · Plays
Power· 11v11 Tackle
Gap-scheme downhill run with a pulling blocker as lead. QB hands to the back, who follows the pulling guard (or H-back) through the designated gap. OL down-blocks playside; backside guard pulls and kicks out / leads up to the second level. Hard-hitting, decisive — the defense gets one count to fit gaps and the back is already through. Best when the defense over-aligns to one side or against a stack-and-shed front you can knock off the ball.
Coaching breakdown
Power — Gap-scheme downhill run with a pulling blocker as lead. QB hands to the back, who follows the pulling guard (or H-back) through the designated gap. OL down-blocks playside; backside guard pulls and kicks out / leads up to the second level. Hard-hitting, decisive — the defense gets one count to fit gaps and the back is already through. Best when the defense over-aligns to one side or against a stack-and-shed front you can knock off the ball. Run from Spread Doubles. The handoff sets up the play; see the OL + receiver bullets below for each player's job.
- @QB: take the handoff, press the LOS, and read the playside LB — if he scrapes, cut back; if he fills, bounce.
- : power — downhill behind the pulling guard, find the hole behind the kick-out.
- : 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 — get depth off the LOS, lead through the hole for the back.
- : cut off the backside — chase block to prevent pursuit.
Ball flow:
- Snap: @QB hands to 1 yard right of center, 4 yards behind the LOS.
When to call it
Short yardage between the tackles. Reliable hammer when you need 2-3 yards — gets at least the LOS even vs a stacked box.
Common mistakes
- RB cuts away from the puller; should follow him through the hole, not freelance.
- Puller stops at the LOS instead of climbing to the LB; the second-level block is what springs the run.
- Down-blocks too soft; need to knock the DTs off the ball, not just engage.