After looking at Hammer Read and CG Counter recently, it’s time to take another look at GH Counter. Specifically, I want to discuss the need for patience and football IQ on the play. Defenses employ different strategies to stop counter runs, and patience by the RB and quick-thinking by the OL solves these strategies.
Play Concept
We’ve reviewed the GH Counter play design previously. Your key blocks are going to be on the weakside 3-tech and the blocks on the edge by the pulling BSG and H-back/TE.
This is GH Counter from a quad set to the field, three receivers as a TE/H aligned to the wide side. RG and RT double-team 3-tech with eye inside for one to climb second level and block the MLB. LT has to keep the SDE from getting into the backfield and blowing up the play before it starts. C downblocks on 1-tech. H and BSG pull playside. BSG kicks out unblocked WDE to open the hole. H enters hole and seals PSLB. RB takes handoff and runs into the tunnel.
Spiller Running GH Counter
A&M is in 11 personnel with H-back and WR to the field and a slot receiver and boundary receiver to the short side. Spiller is aligned to Haynes King’s right in the backfield.
At the snap, Spiller takes his counter step. All three receivers go vertical and look to stalk block. TE/H Jalen Wydermyer pulls to the boundary. RT Kenyon Green fans out and picks up the N-E stunt, sealing the 1-tech outside. RG Layden Robinson pulls to the boundary. C Bryce Foster picks up the SDE’s stunt and seals him outside. LG Aki Ogunbiyi steps backside and picks up the stunt by the WDE. LT Jahmir Johnson picks up the 3-tech’s outside stunt and seals him back inside. The dual stunts strongside are to clog the interior and force an outside run wide. All four stunting linemen are picked up and a wall is created backside.
The MLB and SLB are keying the pulling linemen and follow Robinson and Wydermyer to the point of attack. Green kicks out the strongside linebacker. Wydermyer is too close to Green, but takes over the kickout block. Green turns back and seals the MLB inside. Spiller takes the handoff, goes wide, and realizes the SLB is trying to string him out. Spiller patiently waits for Wydermyer to take over the kickout and Green to seals the inside, then slips inside the hole. Green and Wydermyer’s quick thinking and Spiller’s patience foil the defense’s strategy. Result of the play is a 5 yard gain.