Football Library · Plays
Power· 11v11 Tackle
basicaka Power Oaka Strong Power
11v11 Tackleonly
Gap-scheme downhill run with a pulling lineman as lead through a designated gap.
The design
How Power works
- 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.
Coach the details
Every player's job
- : sell the run fake full speed on the drawn track; finish every rep as if you have the ball.
- : 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.
Call sheet
When and where to run it
- Money downsShort yardage between the tackles.
- Defensive lookReliable hammer when you need 2-3 yards — gets at least the LOS even vs a stacked box.
- Game planSet the kick-out/turn-up rule before the snap: log a wrong-arm edge and bounce, kick an upfield shoulder and follow inside.
- Game planMove the puller to an H-back if guard traffic is a problem.
- Money downsOn short yardage, tighten splits and prioritize vertical movement; against an overloaded front, run it weak or add a formation shift.
Pre-snap to post-snap
Read the defense
Keys to watch
- Reliable hammer when you need 2-3 yards — gets at least the LOS even vs a stacked box.
- Set the kick-out/turn-up rule before the snap: log a wrong-arm edge and bounce, kick an upfield shoulder and follow inside.
- On short yardage, tighten splits and prioritize vertical movement; against an overloaded front, run it weak or add a formation shift.
- Hard-hitting, decisive — the defense gets one count to fit gaps and the back is already through.
Be ready to change the answer
- 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
What can break the play
- Avoid Power when immediate interior penetration prevents the puller from clearing, or when the defense is spilling every kick-out to a fast scrape player with no answer outside.
- It is a downhill gap call; it loses its advantage when the offense cannot create the down-block wall.
- 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.
Build it into a complete package
See how Power fits with complementary calls and a practical installation sequence.