History and Evolution: Power O - Part III - The Modern Era of Power Diversity

Previously

Part I - The Power Series Origins

Part II - Off Tackle Power Earns the Name Power

Retaining the Power Series

While "Power" began to be defined as the Off-Tackle Power O variant in the 1980s, most offenses, including the split back dominated West Coast Offenses, retained much of the Power Series plays within their playbook, albeit under different names. This made use of multiple backs to alter the backfield flow, changing the kick blocker, lead blockers, or sending someone elsewhere altogether.

The Way Forward for Power Sweep

18/19 BOB (Big-on-Big, Back-on-Backer) is the classic Power Sweep

1982 San Francisco 49ers Playbook

History and Evolution: Power O - Part II - Off Tackle Power Earns the Name "Power"

 Previously

Part I - The Power Series Origins

Off-Tackle Power O becomes “Power”

While the I-Formation had a scattering of purveyors dating as far back as the turn of the century, it wasn’t really until the early 1960s when a man known as Don Coryell would begin to popularize it within the Air Coryell offense. While at the upper levels of football it remained mostly unknown, by the late 1960s and into the 70s, coaches such as John Madden and Hank Stram started incorporating it within their offenses. By this time, most teams had now gone to 21 personnel, though split backs and near/far formations still held dominance. But, for instance, in the 1968 Chiefs Playbook, we immediately see what we know of today as traditional Power O (though, it should be noted, Power Sweep remained a vital part of the offense).

1968 Chiefs Playbook

History and Evolution: Power O - Part I - The Power Series Origins

“God’s play.”

Talk to the majority of football guys and they’ll tell you that one of, if not the best play in football is Power. It’s dynamic, dominating, explosive, yet flexible; its name alone congers up an attitude embedded within the game. But, unlike most schemes that are loved due to nostalgia of a game that no longer exists, Power remains a staple of modern football despite its history dating back to the invention of the forward pass. Like anything, it has morphed and adapted, but at its heart the play retains its core characteristics:

• Down blocks on the front side
• A lead block to handle the edge defender
• Backside pullers wrapping around playside.

It looks like this:

 

And here's a primer

Going back to the origins of the game, including in the various iterations that make up football around the globe, numbers and leverage have ruled the day. In American football, that is exactly what Power is. In this post, we are going to look at the origins of “God’s play” and how it has adapted throughout the ages to remain one of the most prevailing schemes in modern football.

 

Film Review: Ohio State vs Clemson, 2020-21 CFP Semi-Final

 I took a look at Ohio State facing off against Clemson in the 2020-21 College Football Playoff Semi-Final. Rather than look for specific things, I tried taking in the game as a whole to look for things worthy of breakdown. Enjoy

OSU-Clemson Breakdown. 1st play of the game. Jet sweep into boundary pic.twitter.com/3MAz7z7adC

— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 9, 2021

Inside the Playbook: Why Run to the Short Side of the Field

 It’s a question regularly asked, “Why is my favorite team constantly running to the short side of the field?” People really do not enjoy jet sweep to the short side. In almost every sport you are taught the concept of using the sideline as an extra defender, and in football it is no different. And in the current era of football, the idea of space is emphasized as much as it has ever been: you have extra wide WR splits, you have light personnel groupings, stretch the field not just horizontally but laterally. So then why does it always feel like the runs aren’t utilizing that space?

Space is a fundamental source of success in modern football, but it is not only the offense that controls space and how it can be used; defense also plays a role. Space is also only a single fundamental facet, others include leverage and numbers. And when you take all those traits into account, that will explain why runs into the boundary are run as often as they are. Let’s take a look.

Want to give example of why teams run outside to short side of field. Here, I’ve diagrammed pin and pull (typically you’d have Y on but this an example). Look at the favorable angles all the way to the playside safety, with 2 defenders stuck on backside to field. Numbers/angles pic.twitter.com/04sJljzpBt

— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) November 14, 2020

Film Review: Ohio State vs Penn State, 2020

 I took a look at Ohio State vs Penn State, specifically focusing on the Buckeyes under center and pistol run game, their pre-snap motion, and the Nittany Lions QB Run Game

⚡️ “2020 Ohio State vs Penn State”https://t.co/iEzNC3iswx

— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) November 16, 2020

Follow the tweet to look at the full twitter moment, which highlights around a few dozen plays. 

Film Review: Michigan Offense vs Michigan State Defense

 Michigan squared off against the Spartans as a clear favorite, led by their powerful run game that consistently maintained RPO and edge threats to stress defensive keys and numbers. But on Saturday, Michigan State mostly shut down that run game. In this post, we're going to look at what the Spartans did to stymie the run game, and where Michigan failed to capitalize. 

Michigan Photography