Frank Gore's TD run vs.

Frank Gore finished with 112-yards rushing in the 49ers’ 30-22 win over the Packers this past Sunday at Lambeau Field. Today, let’s go back to Gore’s 4th quarter TD run and breakdown the “Counter OF.”

Check out the video replay and then we will get into some coaching points…



-I want to start with the personnel, because at first glance this looks like “Jumbo” (3TE, 2RB). However, the Niners have substituted two extra O-Lineman into the game. San Francisco isn’t hiding anything here. Line up and run the football.

- Counter OF is one of the base power runs in the NFL (Power O, Counter OF, Lead). Down block to the closed (strong) side of the formation with the FB and open (weak) side guard working back to the play side.

- “Spill” vs. “Hammer.” A quick breakdown in run fits here. Based on the huddle call you are taught to “spill” (attack the block with your inside shoulder) or “hammer" (attack the block with your outside shoulder). For exmaple, the SS will "hammer" the run in Cover 3 as a support player and "spill" in base Cover 1 (I used to write that on a wrist band when I played).

- Where is the bust? Check out the two inside linebackers. With the down block to the closed side of the formation, both backers (A.J. Hawk and D.J. Smith) have to scrape to the FB and the guard to “spill” the ball to Charles Woodson. However, as we can see on the replay, Hawk and Smith attack downhill and allow the FB to work up to the second level of the defense and cut Woodson. Fit this up correctly, and Woodson can come downhill to make a one-on-one tackle at the line of scrimmage.

- Even after the poor run reads from the Packers, you still have to find a way to get the ball carrier on the ground. Towards the end of the run, Green Bay safety Morgan Burnett must use the sideline as his help (take away cut back angle), run through the ball carrier and wrap his arms on contact. However, throwing a shoulder into Gore isn’t going to get the job done. Poor technique on the tackle attempt that leads to six points.


(nationalfootballpost.com)