Coach ,

Whether you look at FBS schools Tennesee and Coastal Carolina, or watch it under the Friday night lights, you realize quickly that the Counter play is an extremely versatile scheme.

The way that it can be personnel-ed with various pullers both on and off the line of scrimmage, or adjusted to attack multiple fronts, the Counter play works for a variety of offensive line types because of the angles and the misdirection that helps displace defenders to set up blocks.

Whether you have five studs on the line of scrimmage, or a unit of undersized guys (like Coastal did), they play can give your offense plenty of mileage in your game plan as well as plenty of yards on the state sheet.

The Coastal Carolina counter play is a traditional counter trey with adjustments made to block certain looks. It’s a flexible scheme, and as offensive line coach Bill Durkin says, “It’s a whole offense within itself.”

For the Chanticleers it is a play that can:

• Mess with the fits of the defense because of misdirection
• Takes advantage of angles
• Is good into blitzes
• Can be a direct handoff, read, or RPO
• Utilizes multiple backfield actions for window dressing

The more a play can create multiplicity the more value it has within a system. Coach Durkin explains what the play is to them here(click image for video):

Video: Basics of the Counter Play

For a scheme to be good against modern defenses, it better be sound against the odd front. Coach Durkin begins his teaching of the play against odd. With uncovered guard, he will make a “cargo” call which gives him the assignment of blocking down, and the center will come around. Both the C & BST will skip pull for second-level defenders. He explains here: (click image for video):

Video: Counter vs. Odd

In the example, Coach Durkin points out the footwork of the running back and the quarterback. This allows them to hand-off, read, or run an RPO. Here are some examples of the Counter vs. the Odd Front (click image for video):

Video: Examples vs. Odd

Coach Durkin points out that the variations were so numerous that he couldn’t cover them all in one clinic. The way that they run it is a little unique, but that’s what has made it so valuable for them.

Is Tempo a focus? It is for Tennessee, and OL Coach Glen Elarbee like it as part of their offense because they can get it blocked up without complicated line calls. He explains it here (click on image for video):

Video: Counter vs. 3 Down

Scott Smithey, Offensive Line Coach at Needville High School (TX) loves the versatility of the play. They can use it in two-back, but also motion outh the running back and create an empty run-pass option with G/T as the pullers. He explains their scheme in this video (click on image for video):

Video: Lou

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. Clinic talks from all three of these coaches have been packaged into one resource available here. It’s worth having this season to help you keep your counter attack fine-tuned and piling up the yardage. Get it here: Counter - A Scheme for Multiple Offense.