Steelers

It isn't a counter play because there isn't a guard pulling and an H -back leading through. basically the QB would show inside zone action right lets say the at the last minute with his right hand, hand off to the back going left. line zone blocks to the right. fullback can lead on either side.

Sounds like the Counter/Power Series that Oneback describes. The FB in that scheme is essentially the H-back, but in the I or Offset-I positions.

The guys running the Steelers offense are old Gibbs/Redskins folks. Russ Grimm is doing the line (and assist HC) and Ken Wisenhunt as the OC.

When I watched those games I saw Pittsburgh running the Power/Counter series quite a bit, but with the H-back from the I positions, the off-guard was pulling on many plays, but not leading he was turning it up early. It might be the Stutter version of the counter Grimm and Joe Bugel have described, which is hitting inside more - the BSG turns it up basically in the B-gap.

As Oneback mentioned... it is designed to perfectly complement the Inside Zone... and the footwork is essentially the same for everyone (except pullers) but flipped. I'd listen to him... the guy KNOWS that offense.

I can easily see sharp coaches like those deciding NOT to pull the BSG if it was determined it would be a big key for those defenses.

I DO know that Russ Grimm's FAVORITE play (by his own admission) is the "POWER" with H kicking & off G wrapping thru. Joe, you need Scott to forward the diagrams via email that he did up for me on this series. I can't get the diagrams to go thru.

USC and Univ. of Minnesota are both running this play as well. The Univ. of Minnesota calls it "Satilite" They will run it two different ways. The offensive line blocks inside zone on both schemes, leaving the backside DE. In a 2 back set the fullback will go and block the DE, just as he would if they were running inside zone, but the back will take the counter steps and run the play off the FB block. In a one back set they will run the play if the Backside DE is chasing down the line hard and they are saying they running backs are better than the DE in a poor position and will out run him.

The gophers (Maroney and Barber) hit Oregon hard on this last year in the Sun Bowl, and Reggie Bush from USC run the play very well!

JD

The running back is taking counter steps, the running back will take his first 2 zone steps and on the 3rd step he will plant on come back over the top of the QB. The Qb will open at 5 or 7 drive for depth as he would on the zone, then as the back starts to rock back on the counter step QB will take ball back to oppisite hip and hand ball off to the RB.

Last year was the first time I had ever seen the play. As I said before it was USC and Minnesota running the play and I have seen the Steelers and Houston Texans run the play this year as well.

What else is the Steelers running? I have not seen them this year but I know they use to run a lot of weakside Iso & the outside zone play pulling the guard.