How USC Built Play-Action Series Off GT Counter

There is beauty in well-sequenced football for anyone with eyes to see. And though a losing affair, the USC Trojans showed off their ability to build a sound series off their GT Counter play. Using a 21 personnel split back formation, they set up effective play actions that looked the same to the defense, led to explosives, and protected their precious GT.

2nd & 1 at the +41 (9:46 1Q)

The first time the Trojans ran GT Counter out of this formation, they were hit with a usual GT killer –– two off the edge via the Will. This look can be brutal to GT Counter (or any end read) because the first defender inside can crash and take the running back while the outside defender can take the quarterback. However, the center, though having a backside one technique, crosses the first defender and blocks all the way back on the five technique. That leaves only one defender off the edge which the quarterback can account for in his end read.

Otherwise, the play goes as you’d expect: the pulling tackle takes the Mike and the play side running back takes the Sam. The unaccounted for defenders, the corner and safeties, make the tackle –– a fact representative of a well-executed run.

They ran this play multiple times throughout the game and the play actions below all followed suit in formation and initial action.

1st & 10 at the -25 (4:56 2Q)

The first shot Coach Riley dialed up didn’t work because the quarterback forced the ball a tad. They are running a flood concept with the tight end on the corner and the usually-lead-blocking running back in the flat with the receiver running the big post over the top. Against a two-high look, the quarterback should peek at the near safety to see if he latches to the corner route. Should he do so, the post will be in a one on one situation worth the taking. Otherwise, the quarterback must read the flat defender for the choice between the corner and the flat route.

The tight end is slow to get into the vertical stem of his route due to collision with the defensive end, therefore the near safety never is put in conflict. But the quarterback threw it anyway. He had a clean pocket so there was no need to rush the read or force the issue. Had he moved on in his progression, he’d have had a good opportunity at the corner route since the flat defender was late to get out into coverage and low.

1st & 10 at the +49 (3:27 2Q)

Finally, an explosive play action. Building off the guard pull action that’s present in GT Counter, the Trojans ran the infamous trap pass. The defense ran the same five-man pressure with the Will off the weak side edge, and again the center blocked back to the five technique so the backside tackle was able to handle the blitzing Will.

The other key to success on the play was the ability of the quarterback to fit the ball in before the backside safety could become an issue. The route running played a factor in this too by staying on a vertical path. Lastly, the run action did wonders to suck up the Mike linebacker who’d seen GT Counter with similar action come at him multiple times prior to this play.

If the trap pass hadn’t been there, the offense had a nice reset option for the quarterback. The number one receiver to the field ran a deep curl and the running back who’d been taking the Sam over and over just ran to the flat. So if the near safety had been an issue and latched on to the vertical by the tight end, then the quarterback could’ve reset to the curl flat combination.

2nd & 6 at the -31 (3:00 3Q)

Consider this a redo of the unsuccessful flood combination before. This time, run to the field, the tight end gets the free release and can get up on the safety to make the read clearer to the quarterback.

As was their custom all game long, the Horned Frogs were in a two-high structure again. Unlike last time, the near safety latches to the corner route leaving the post one on one. With a little shuffle to the right, the quarterback makes the right read this time and lets it fly for the big gain. Finally, all their hard work paid off for the explosive.

Series based offense isn’t new. But it’s something that requires real effort because it doesn’t happen on its own. USC had an intentional plan to run GT Counter out of this formation not only because they thought it was one of the better ways to do so against their opponent, but because it was a gateway to explosive passes that protected their base run and kept the defense honest.