The power play in football is one of the most influential plays in football. Teams are starting to use the power play from both spread and traditional offenses. What is the power play, and how do football teams use it?
The power play in football requires “gap” scheme blocking, with the backside guard pulling to block out the defensive end. Once the hole opens up, a fullback or a tight end will block the play-side linebacker.
We’re going to examine the power play from different personnel groupings. If you’re unfamiliar with personnel groupings, look at our short write-up to understand how coaches use players to create different formations to run power.
Power Play Football
First, to understand the power play thoroughly, you must learn the “gap scheme” rules. In short, the offensive line & tight end will be blocking any player in their gap away from the play, also known as a “down block.”
Here are the rules that are universal to running power out of any formation
Center + Frontside Guard & Tackle – Gap block and push any player in your backside gap away from the play. If there is nobody in your backside gap, go to the linebacker.
Backside Guard – Pull and wrap for the first jersey that shows. If nobody moves, it will be a linebacker.
Backside Tackle – Hinge block and don’t let any blitzing linebacker or slanting defensive end cross your face.
Fullback – Kick out the playside defensive end. Hit them on the inside shoulder and create a hole for the running back to run through.
The power play is a running play that uses gap blocks on the front side while pulling and hinging on the backside.
The key to the power play is an efficient double team from the right guard and right tackle (if running right).
Running The Power Play From 21 Personnel
We diagramed it above with the double team on the 3 technique and slid off to the middle linebacker.
Variations of the power play that we’ve seen are a kick-out block from the backside guard and the fullback blocking the outside linebacker.
This variation gives a better angle on the kick-out block and lets the fullback run straight for the linebacker. We’ve diagramed this version below.
What version of power do you run from 21 personnel? We’d love to hear in the comment section below!
Running The Power Play From Spread Personnel (12 & 11)
As the game has become more athlete-centric and spread out, offenses started to adopt inside and outside zone schemes.
However, coaches slowly started to adopt the old-school power play into the newer spread systems.
From spread personnel, instead of using 2 running backs and 1 tight end, we’re going to diagram in 12 personnel (1 running back and 2 tight ends) or 11 personnel (1 running back and 1 tight end).
Just like we used the fullback to kick out the defensive end, here we’re using the H-back to kick him out. The other players follow their “gap” rules and go down, blocking away from the play.
The backside guard will pull and lead up the hole to the linebacker.
Similar to the alternate example above, we switched the kick-out block to the backside guard and had the H-back lead up through the hole in the diagram below.
This is also known as one back power.
Teams have gotten creative and run power from 12 personnel, having a tight end and an H-back into the game. Below are some cutups from Chip Kelly’s power game when he was with Oregon.
How To Stop The Power Play In Football
The power play, when executed correctly, is extremely tough to stop. The first thing to look at is how the team is blocking the power.
One technique is disrupting the tight end or tackle, trying to down the block on the middle linebacker by pushing him or getting hands on him.
Disrupting the lead blocker/kick-out block is also important. Closing the hole that the running back can run through will often make him bounce laterally or put his head down for a 2-3 yard gain.
Aggressive play from the linebackers and squeezing down the hole from defensive ends will help clog up the power play.
Learn more about spread offense runs plays from the articles below.
Spread Offensive Run Plays – Complete Guide
The Basics Of The Oklahoma Trey Counter
How To Run Counter In Football – Complete Guide
The Gap Scheme & How It’s Run In Every Offense
Complete Outside Zone Guide & Tutorial