Iowa State's Run Game Blueprint: Personnel, Pullers, and Play Design
Iowa State might have the most diverse run game in the country. They combine that diversity with 12 and 13 personnel regularly, which gives them real flexibility in how they get to each concept. In this article, we’re breaking down their most interesting run concepts. Some you’ve seen. Some you probably haven’t. Let’s get into it.
Super Counter
I know, I know. You’ve seen it before. But Iowa State’s 13 personnel version is a thing of beauty. They don’t just pull three. They pull four. All three second-level defenders get over the top, and the Cyclones have enough pullers to handle every one of them. In a perfect world, the playside double team climbs to the backside linebacker. But even when it doesn’t, the sheer numbers at the point of attack make this concept work.
Q Counter with Rail
This one doesn’t exactly hit according to plan, but the playside offensive tackle turns back out on the torch stunt and opens a cutback lane for the quarterback. The Rail RPO off this action removes any bonus fitter from the equation, and the Cyclones break a nice run.
Another clean rep of Q G/T Counter with the Rail RPO attached. Iowa State gets blockers to the second level, the quarterback makes one cut, and it’s six.
