Modifications to the Power Play

I want to thank Buckeye Football Analysis for this little update (or, reminder) of a way to use the Power play. Basically, its an adjustment for disciplined ends that wrong arm and over pursue the traditional power play (the LB's press the LOS and the hole created by the double team(s)).

Buckeye football dates it back to the traditional T formation, but we actually ran a version of this when we ran the Counter GT in the Delaware Wing-T back in high school. If the end closed hard and stayed tight to the LOS, the guard would wrap on him and the tackle would read him and wrap around his block. It was also an in-game call (instead of counter, we called it counter sweep). 
For today's Power Play, which Buckeye Football correctly cites a great article by SmartFootball.com in regard to it being one of if not the most famous run play in football, this play is similar.

If a defensive end closes hard and inside on the fullback, it would traditionally blow up the power play. The linebackers scrape over the top and then immediately press the LOS to cut off the runningback as he adjusted his path (naturally) to the outside.

Modifying the Power Play

This modification, which I like to call Power Flip, has the fullback wheel on the defensive end. With this idea already in play, it takes any indecisiveness out of the offensive guard. As the guard knows he's wrapping, he can quickly get around the corner. The linebackers and force defender (especially the playside safety who fills inside when he sees power in Cover 4) will be out of luck. Now, where do the double teams occur? This depends on how you designed power. For instance, against an under front, some people cut off a backside 3 technique tackle with their backside offensive tackle, and the center and playside guard combo block to the backside inside linebacker, with the playside tackle/tight end combo going to the playside inside linebacker. The guard would wrap around onto any extra defender, hopefully a safety. Others have the center block back on the 3 technique, the guard block down on a shaded nose and the tackle and tight end double to the backside linebacker with the guard leading on the playside linebacker.

So, in power flip, you could follow those blocking rules. If the backside inside linebacker likes to press the LOS, this would likely work out very well. If he's great at pursuing, you run the risk of him beating the playside guard to the hole and bubbling the playback.

Perhaps the best adjustment would be out of the gun. Running this out of the gun and reading the 3 technique versus an under or the backside end (maybe pulling the tackle instead of the guard) would give the offense a plus one advantage, with the pulling guard wrapping on the safety.

Some key coaching points would include the pull technique for the guard. While the fullback is wrapping, this would create "trash" at the point of attack. The guard needs to throw the playside arm back and really take a deep pull, and then run downhill from the LOS form there. Also, the fullback needs to be schooled on proper wheeling technique (sometimes called a log or a J back). The runningback needs to have his eyes meet the playside inside linebacker and nearly mirror the steps, except his toe needs to point probably off the tight ends playside hip. There will be no cutback on this play.

Overall, I feel this play would be a great addition to anyone who runs whatever variation of power. Again, I'd like to thank Buckeye Football Analysis and Smartfootball.com. Also, thank you for reading despite the fact I have no diagrams (remember, no internet at home yet, so no playmaker pro).

Feel free to leave comments!