Reading the call sheet
Loading the next OpenPlay view.
offense / gap run
A misdirection gap run that moves pursuit one way before two pullers lead the back the other way.
Animated assignment view
The back aligns left, allowing the first step to sell flow away from the eventual right-side run.
Ball: center
How it works
The runner's initial step suggests a run left while the left guard and tackle pull right. Play-side linemen block down, the guard handles the edge, and the tackle leads through the newly created gap.
Use defensive pursuit rules against an aggressive front and create favorable angles at the point of attack.
Sell the first step before following the pullers without drifting laterally.
The runner first steps left to fool the defense, then follows two blockers running right into an opening they create.
Counter depends on disciplined spacing: the kick-out must widen the edge while the wrapper stays tight enough to prevent a linebacker run-through.
Decision point
The kick-out and wrap blocks create two immediate landmarks, while overaggressive pursuit can open a bend lane.
Stay inside the kick-out and run behind the tackle into the designed gap.
low riskCircle outside when the force defender wrong-arms and spills the puller inward.
medium riskBend inside the down blocks when linebackers race beyond the gap.
high risk{
"schema": "openplay-football",
"schemaVersion": "0.1",
"id": "counter",
"slug": "counter",
"name": "Counter",
"side": "offense",
"category": "gap-run",
"personnel": {
"id": "eleven-personnel",
"name": "11 Personnel",
"grouping": "1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR",
"positionCounts": {
"QB": 1,
"RB": 1,
"WR": 3,
"TE": 1,
"OL": 5
}
},
"formation": {
"id": "gun-trips",
"name": "Gun Trips",
"family": "shotgun",
"strength": "right",
"description": "Three receivers align right with the back offset left of the quarterback."
},
"situationTags": [
"early-down",
"misdirection",
"aggressive-defense"
],
"players": [
{
"id": "qb",
"position": "QB",
"label": "QB",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 26.67,
"y": -5
},
"alignment": "Shotgun",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "quarterback"
},
{
"id": "rb",
"position": "RB",
"label": "RB",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 22.5,
"y": -6
},
"alignment": "Offset left",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runningBack"
},
{
"id": "x",
"position": "WR",
"label": "X",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 5,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Wide left",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "receivers"
},
{
"id": "h",
"position": "WR",
"label": "H",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 37,
"y": -2
},
"alignment": "Inside right slot",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "receivers"
},
{
"id": "y",
"position": "TE",
"label": "Y",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 33.5,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Attached right",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "tightEnds"
},
{
"id": "z",
"position": "WR",
"label": "Z",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 48,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Wide right",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "receivers"
},
{
"id": "lt",
"position": "LT",
"label": "LT",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 21,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Line",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runBlocking"
},
{
"id": "lg",
"position": "LG",
"label": "LG",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 24,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Line",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runBlocking"
},
{
"id": "c",
"position": "C",
"label": "C",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 26.67,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Line",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runBlocking"
},
{
"id": "rg",
"position": "RG",
"label": "RG",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 29.4,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Line",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runBlocking"
},
{
"id": "rt",
"position": "RT",
"label": "RT",
"initialCoordinate": {
"x": 32.4,
"y": -1
},
"alignment": "Line",
"side": "offense",
"ratingRole": "runBlocking"
}
],
"preSnap": {
"description": "The back aligns left, allowing the first step to sell flow away from the eventual right-side run.",
"shifts": []
},
"assignments": [
{
"id": "rb-counter-track",
"playerId": "rb",
"startsAtMs": 650,
"endsAtMs": 3400,
"coachingPoint": "Sell the first step before following the pullers without drifting laterally.",
"type": "run-path",
"path": [
{
"type": "curve",
"control": {
"x": 20,
"y": -5
},
"to": {
"x": 25,
"y": -2
}
},
{
"type": "curve",
"control": {
"x": 30,
"y": 2
},
"to": {
"x": 32,
"y": 12
}
}
],
"aimingPoint": "Inside hip of the pulling tackle"
},
{
"id": "left-guard-kick",
"playerId": "lg",
"type": "pull-block",
"path": [
{
"type": "curve",
"control": {
"x": 24,
"y": -3
},
"to": {
"x": 34,
"y": 1
}
}
],
"responsibility": "Kick out the force defender."
},
{
"id": "left-tackle-wrap",
"playerId": "lt",
"type": "pull-block",
"path": [
{
"type": "curve",
"control": {
"x": 22,
"y": -4
},
"to": {
"x": 31,
"y": 4
}
}
],
"responsibility": "Wrap inside the kick-out and lead on the play-side linebacker."
},
{
"id": "right-guard-down",
"playerId": "rg",
"type": "run-block",
"responsibility": "Block down and prevent penetration into the pull lane."
},
{
"id": "right-tackle-down",
"playerId": "rt",
"type": "run-block",
"responsibility": "Collapse the edge inward to create the counter gap."
},
{
"id": "tight-end-arc",
"playerId": "y",
"type": "lead-block",
"path": [
{
"type": "straight",
"to": {
"x": 36,
"y": 5
}
}
],
"responsibility": "Account for the widest support defender."
}
],
"decisionPoint": {
"id": "read-counter-gap",
"triggerTimeMs": 1900,
"prompt": "Where should the back follow the counter action?",
"explanation": "The kick-out and wrap blocks create two immediate landmarks, while overaggressive pursuit can open a bend lane.",
"options": [
{
"id": "follow-wrapping-tackle",
"label": "Follow the wrapping tackle",
"description": "Stay inside the kick-out and run behind the tackle into the designed gap.",
"intendedRead": "The force defender is kicked outside.",
"riskLevel": "low"
},
{
"id": "bounce-around-kick",
"label": "Bounce around the kick-out",
"description": "Circle outside when the force defender wrong-arms and spills the puller inward.",
"intendedRead": "The edge defender dives underneath the guard.",
"riskLevel": "medium"
},
{
"id": "cut-behind-flow",
"label": "Cut behind the pursuit",
"description": "Bend inside the down blocks when linebackers race beyond the gap.",
"intendedRead": "Second-level defenders overrun the counter action.",
"riskLevel": "high"
}
]
},
"timeline": [
{
"type": "pre-snap",
"atMs": 0
},
{
"type": "snap",
"atMs": 500
},
{
"type": "assignment-start",
"atMs": 650,
"playerId": "rb"
},
{
"type": "decision-pause",
"atMs": 1900,
"decisionPointId": "read-counter-gap"
},
{
"type": "contact",
"atMs": 3400,
"playerIds": [
"rb",
"lt"
]
},
{
"type": "play-end",
"atMs": 4200
}
],
"narrative": {
"summary": "A misdirection gap run that moves pursuit one way before two pullers lead the back the other way.",
"fullExplanation": "The runner's initial step suggests a run left while the left guard and tackle pull right. Play-side linemen block down, the guard handles the edge, and the tackle leads through the newly created gap.",
"strategicPurpose": "Use defensive pursuit rules against an aggressive front and create favorable angles at the point of attack.",
"idealSituations": [
"After repeated zone runs",
"Against fast-flow linebackers",
"Second and medium"
],
"strengths": [
"Punishes overpursuit",
"Creates defined lead blocks",
"Can produce explosive lanes"
],
"weaknesses": [
"Penetration can collide with pullers",
"Slow backfield timing reveals the concept"
],
"keyRead": "Read the force defender's response to the guard, then locate the wrapping tackle entering the gap.",
"watchFor": [
"The back's false step",
"Both pullers clearing the center",
"Linebackers flowing away from the play"
],
"beginnerExplanation": "The runner first steps left to fool the defense, then follows two blockers running right into an opening they create.",
"advancedNote": "Counter depends on disciplined spacing: the kick-out must widen the edge while the wrapper stays tight enough to prevent a linebacker run-through."
},
"simulation": {
"difficulty": "advanced",
"conceptTags": [
"run",
"counter",
"gap-scheme",
"misdirection"
],
"baseSuccessRate": 0.55,
"yardRange": {
"min": -6,
"max": 32
},
"turnoverRisk": 0.016
}
}