Anyone still run the Counter trey?

I run it. counter gt is my favorite play.

I don't see why a 4-3 would bother it.

OJW - I feel safe in saying that the COUNTER/POWER series (same play with slight variations in blocking) is the most EFFECTIVE & most widely used running series in the NFL (& major college) today. Almost EVERY team I watch uses it.

You need to get the video that is circulating around (many people on this site have mentioned it) on the "POWER/COUNTER" series, by Russ Grimm (ex Redskins O-Line Coach; current Steelers coach).

Put a post on here offering to trade for it . It is the best RUNNING game video I have seen. In addition - check the posts on this very forum on the Counter & Power play. It has been WIDELY discussed.

The Counter in it's most ELEMENTARY form is for the playside ON TE/ON T/ON G/ CENTER - TO "GAP DOWN" away from the point of attack. If you are down blocking a penetrating DLM by yourself - you need the old fashion "reverse shoulder block". Line splits MUST be kept tight (18").

OFF G traps EMLOS on playside. OFF T can pull & lead ("wrap") thru the hole for the playside LB, BUT, more often than not, teams are pulling the backside "H" back (TE off the ball). Then, the OFF T can seal penetration that might occur in the BS/B Gap or possibly an edge rusher (check inside first & outside second).

WR's "push/crack" to the safeties.

QB opens back to 7 o'clock on Counter right, & 5 o'clock on Counter left. After handoff - fake boot away.

RB makes one hard jab step opposite point of attack, & hits downhill tight for butt of ON T - as he picks up the pull of backside "wrapper" (H or Off T). Stay on his hip & follow him!!!!!

This is what is known as "COUNTER-GAP"! That is REALLY all there is to it. They can make a couple of calls on the PLAYSIDE to get double teams, BUT, it can be run as above against ANY defense, & is the simplest form of the play to teach. We have used the play since 1981, & it is our BEST running play. Can be run to the split end side as well (if not BETTER) than to the tight end side - you're just minus one blocker (TE) and they are minus one defender.

OTHER PERTINENT COACHING POINTS:

The One Back Counter Play

The coaching point that must be stressed over and over is that the back must start downhill. If his first step is lateral, then the inside cut is very difficult and the back will not be able to explode into the crack when it opens.

Let me review the major coaching points:

1. The Back must go downhill first. If not, he'll miss the inside cut.

2. The QB must give the Back room to run the inside course. Don't allow him to force the Back wide.

3. The pulling "wrapper" (H or OFF T) must have enough depth on his pull to read the pulling Guard's block, and he must make a quick decision when to turn up inside. He cannot be directly behind the pulling Guard. He must be deeper.

4. The pulling Guard must think trap first as he pulls flat and into the line of scrimmage to dig out the end man on the line of scrimmage. If the man to be trapped overplays to the inside, then the Guard can log him and the play can bounce outside. The Guard must read this on the run and never think to log his man unless that is the only alternative.


PPS: OJW - the only time a 4-3 poses a problem is the 4-3 OVER with a bubble over the ON T, & a 6 technique on your TE that will come down hard inside (as TE down blocks) & wrong shoulder the trapper to "spill" the play. Variation that stops that is to have TE base him up, & trapper lead thru the hole around the ON T's gap block on the 3 tech & seal inside. This is in the Russ Grimm tape shown under "60 POWER"!
I have explained all this NUMEROUS times on this site, but some of the posts have disappeared!!!!! Look under "search" above for my previous posts on the Counter and/or Power!

OJW there ARE situations where the TE & ON T can double from the man on the OT to the backside LBer (IF there is a bubble over the ON G), and times when the ON T & ON G can double from the man on the ON G to the backside LB (IF there is a bubble over the Center), BUT - the "gap" blocking can handle ALL the fronts, & is the easiest way to go. It becomes ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL if the Center & ON G are BOTH covered (Bear 46; some forms of 5-3, etc.).

If you have any questions, email me at billmountjoy@yahoo.com


PS: Here are some coaching points for the "reverse shoulder block" needed to "gap block" a DLM who is a penetrator:

Gap Block- Used to block man in inside gap. Step down inside with inside

foot, rip backside arm and leg through. Deliver blow with far

side shoulder and forearm (we drive upfield hand into defender'r rib cage), getting head across the D

lineman's belt. Keep a wide base on the second step. This is a reverse shoulder block used to stop

penetration.

Current article re: Redskins running game:

January 13th issue of The Sporting News under "POWER PLAYS".

NFL The Power O

It's all about attitude

During joe Gibbs' first tenure in Washington, when the Redskins lead late, guard Russ Grimm would exclaim on the sideline, "It's time for the tanks!"

The tanks were two and sometimes three tight ends to supplement "The Hogs" in a bruising running game. Gibbs would mix 40-50 gut, a straight-ahead zone play, with counter trey, and more often than not, the Redskins ran to victory. Now Grimm is an assistant in pittsburgh, where the Steelers employ Power O, an off-tackle running play some of the league's other better ground teams - Chicago, Seattle and Tampa Bay - also use.

The weakside guard pulls, and the fullback, responsible for blocking the outside defender, follows. The tight end blocks down on the end, and the tackle and play-side guard work a combination block to the second level. With a counter step by the back, the linebackers can be sucked in, creating a natural bounce to take the play outside. It's a play Green bay used with Ahman Green - and the reason the packers are struggling without guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle.

"Power O is an attitude play," Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner says. "Let's double-team 'em and ram the ball up in there." - Brad Biggs

"Hail To The Redskins!" Let's hope Joe and his staff can keep this train arollin' to the NFC Championship then on to Detroit.

PS: "DUKE": conntact me at billmountjoy@yahoo.com re: COUNTER!

The great sequence is to motion "H" across to "kick" on the Power, & if they over-adjust to the motion - come BACK with the Counter. It is really the SAME PLAY for everybody except for who kicks out & who leads thru. From game to game - one may become more effective than the other - depending on what the defense is doing!

Oneback,
Would you motion the H across and have him come back as the 'wrapper' in the Counter? Or would you have him seal the backside and let the TE become the wrapper?

I'm picturing a balanced formation, then H motion across the formation with the Counter going back to the weakside.
We run Power from this look, with the H coming across at full steam and the QB timing the snap so that the H can unload on the unsuspecting EMOL. Teams tend to overplay this motion, so it would be nice to have a good counter off that look to take advantage of this. (We run a nice playaction off the look.) The problem is, the H would have to come to a stop if he was to turn back and become the wrapper, and I don't think teams would buy it as much.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - As HISTORY 10 said - there are many ways to do it ACCORDING TO FORMATIONS YOU use, as long as there is a trapper & wrapper!

Bill,
Is this the original counter trey?

"The Counter in it's most ELEMENTARY form is for the playside ON TE/ON T/ON G/ CENTER - TO "GAP DOWN" away from the point of attack. If you are down blocking a penetrating DLM by yourself - you need the old fashion "reverse shoulder block". Line splits MUST be kept tight (18").

OFF G traps EMLOS on playside. OFF T can pull & lead ("wrap") thru the hole for the playside LB"

Hope EVERYONE saw the Steelers break the "POWER-OH" for the longest run in Super Bowl history!!!!! BEAUTIFUL execution!!!

NOTE: The "POWER-OH" IS the "Counter" - simply swapping the trapper & the wrapper!!!!! It is a part of the series Russ Grimm hangs his hat on (the same he used as a player for the Redskins blocking for John Riggins, with Joe Bugel's "HOGS")!

newworldman,
wondering where your name comes from?
Could it be from the Great White North, eh?
welcome to the board.

What does this mean.......ON G - ON T & TE Trey blocked.

Hey John,

To me a trey block has always been the T + TE
Duece Block= Guard + T
Ace Block= Center + guard

Coach Easton

Karjaw

Do you send a wing in rocket/jet motion then run counter/power to the other side with your FB?

If so, is this more effective for you than the FB trap that most dw teams run?

-Scott