Inside the Playbook: Wisconsin Lead Power O, Power O, and Counter with F/H Part II

In this post, we'll continue to look at how Wisconsin utilizes the Wing to run Power O. Wisconsin will utilize 12 personnel most often, but will also sprinkle in 11 personnel or even 13 personnel to run this play. And while they can still run a traditional, I-Form Power O, I want to focus specifically on what they do with a TE off the LOS, and how they utilize that as well as anyone in college football to add a blocker from the backside, and insert him at the point of attack.

Part 1 can be found here

Double H-Off Nasty Lead Power O

Here’s the same exact concept, but we have the Y-TE on the LOS next to the TE, and a Flanker aligned in a wing position (known as Nasty). On the opposite side, we retain a H-Off the LOS, but Wisconsin has split a WR outside.

 I H-Off Lead Power O

Now let’s step back a little bit, and run Power O with a FB. Like with typically Power O, the FB is going to be the kickout blocker. However, the H-Off on the backside can still be inserted to the playside as a lead blocker. And so Wisconsin has utilized 22 personnel to once again run Lead Power O.

 Weak Y-Off Lead Power O

Here is essentially the H-Off Lead Power O run in the opposite direction. Here, the Y that motions across the LOS is always responsible for the End and the FB (U) will always be responsible for the SAM (S). If the End is outside of Y, it will look exactly like your standard Lead Power O (the Y will kickout the End and the FB will lead inside to the SAM). In this case, the End stays inside, so the the Y down blocks and the FB finds the SAM stepping forward to set the edge, and so kicks him.

Tight Bunch Lead Power O

Lastly, we’ll look at how Wisconsin utilizes a tight bunch, starting with the Lead Power O. Working to the strong side of the play, the Y (middle man in the bunch) will kick out the defender (if there is a defender aligned between H and Y, H may kick too), and then F is going to fold inside like a lead blocker. The BSG is also pulling around.

Tight Bunch Power O

However, there are some adjustments that see it run as a simple Power O. Here, again, the Y is kicking out the edge defender, but because of the CB’s alignment and possibly the offensive personnel, the F is going to work straight to the CB rather than fold inside. This adjustment can be a call based on alignment or a personnel choice.

Tight Bunch Lead Counter H

But Wisconsin was also able to use the same type of concept working away from the bunch. Here, they are going to run Counter H with an additional puller. The BSG is going to pull and trap the defensive EMOL, meanwhile, the H and F are going to pull around and up to the second level.

Conclusion

What this demonstrates is that Wisconsin is able to utilize a lot of TEs and FBs, both to the front side of the play and to the backside of the play, and effectively add blockers to the point of attack. They love your standard Power O or Counter with an additional lead blocker. Combined with doubles and downblocks at the point of attack, it is a powerful downhill running scheme that provides blockers with advantageous angles and numbers.