The Wingback Counter
THIS IS A DEVASTATING PLAY. AS IF THE DEFENSE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO THINK ABOUT, FORMATION, MOTION, OPTION, DIVE, TB COUNTER) NOW WE HAVE THE COUNTER BY THE WB. THE PLAY COMES OFF SHORT SIDE SWEEP ACTION. THE FB GOES IN SHORT MOTION AND CUTS IN FRONT OF THE WB TO SEAL OFF THAT AREA ON THE LOS. THE QB REVERSE PIVOTS AND HANDS THE BALL OFF ON AN INSIDE HANDOFF TO THE WB COMING UNDERNEATH. THE TB EXECUTES A SWEEP MOVEMENT TO THE SHORT SIDE AND RUNS A PATH TO SCREEN THE CB TO THE OUTSIDE. THE WG PULLS TO BLOCK THE FIRST MAN ON THE LOS AT OR BEYOND THE HOLE CALLED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE TAKE AN INSIDE OUT CHARGE TO BE IN POSITION TO BOCK THE TRAP MAN WHEREVER HE MAY BE. SOMETIMES THE TRAP MAN DISAPPEARS AND THERE IS NO ONE TO BLOCK. WE HAVE HAD GUARDS LITERALLY STOP DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLE ONLY TO HAVE THE BALL CARRIER SLAM INTO HIS BACK. IF THERE IS NO ONE TO TRAP BLOCK, TURN UP FIELD AND BLOCK THE NEXT ODD COLOR JERSEY YOU SEE.
THE WB TAKES THE HAND OFF AND WHEN HE PASSES THE CENTER MOVES UP FIELD INTO THE HOLE. THERE IS A RUNNING LANE THAT OPENS BETWEEN THE HB AND THE FS. RUNNING TOO FAR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER MEANS RUNNING DIRECTLY INTO A TACKLER. SPLIT THE SECONDARY AND RACE THEM TO THE GOAL LINE.
THIS PLAY IS RUN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A BALL GAME ALMOST ALWAYS FOR A GOOD GAIN. PART OF THE PLAY'S SUCCESS IS THAT OUR WB'S ARE USUALLY THE SMALLEST RUNNING BACKS WE HAVE OFTEN IN THE 5'5" TO 5'7" RANGE. THE PLAY HITS SO QUICKLY, THE HAND OFF TAKES PLACE CLOSE TO THE LOS, DIRECTLY BEHIND LARGER OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN THAT THE DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY THE LB'ERS, CANNOT LOCATE THE BALL CARRIER UNTIL THEY ARE IN A RUN DOWN SITUATION.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PLAYS TO RUN AROUND MID-FIELD IN A SECOND AND SHORT SITUATION. THE DEFENSE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT PLAY. THEY ACTUALLY FORGET ABOUT THE WB COUNTER EVEN THOUGH THE SCOUTING REPORT INDICATES HOW BIG A PLAY IT CAN BE. THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR THE DEFENSE TO CONCENTRATE ON DURING THE COURSE OF THE GAME TO RETAIN FOCUS. MID-WAY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER IN THE MIDST OF A BIG DRIVE, THEY JUST FORGET THE WB AS A BALL CARRIER.
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