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FanSided

49ers Film Room: Kyle Shanahan’s Running Game

By Rich Madrid

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; View of the line of scrimmage during the first quarter between the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; View of the line of scrimmage during the first quarter between the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

COUNTER-GAP SCHEME

Teams that are either zone-run heavy or gap-run heavy always have a need to implement the other to not be predictable.

Chip Kelly learned this early, and the 49ers running game regularly featured counter, power, toss and toss-sweep runs.

Counter is one type of gap scheme running play:

Teams will need to do this regularly to serve as a tendency breaker. For the counter, it serves to create hesitation. The initial movement of the offensive line with their down blocks and double teams, looks like a zone-running play until the pulling blockers hit the hole.

The linemen to the play-side block down on the defensive line to create a wall, while two backside blockers pull to the play-side:

I’ve written about the counter trey before, but the counter here is different. Instead of the backside tight end or a fullback, the backside guard and tackle are the lead blockers.

The backside guard pulls and is responsible for kicking out the playside contain player, while the backside tackle will pull and lead into block into the hole for the running back: