Adding a touch of finesse to the Power I.

Coaches perceive the Power I formation for what the name implies-power. Often on third and one or fourth and short, the formation will called upon to power the tailback through a hole with two backs blocking.

We believe that with the addition of a little finesse, the Power I can take on the kind of deception you sec in the Wing-T, thus providing a very good change-up for the I Formation package.

Jerry Hollingsworth, former head coach at Mt. Airy (NC) H.S., and his long-time assistant, Eddie Cobb, taught me this package as a young J.V. coach. The accompanying plays have proved very successful for us over the years.

Alignment and play-faking are very essential for the timing and execution. The fullback sets up about four yards deep, the tailback about seven yards from the ball, and the halfback aligns at the same depth as the fullback, with his outside leg on line with the tackle's inside leg.

We constantly stress the necessity of carrying out every fake. We do not want the QB to hurry; we want him to carry out his fakes smoothly and deliberately.

DIAG. 1, TAILBACK COUNTER TRAP:

The play begins with the QB opening toward the side of the fullback, who runs through the backside A-gap. The QB does not fake to the fullback, who immediately attacks the backside LB or the closest defender.

The tailback takes a counter step parallel to the backside A-gap, then pivots and runs at an angle toward the outside leg of the playside guard.

The halfback leads through the playside A-gap, looking for a block on the playside LB.

As the QB opens away from the playside, he makes sure to conceal the ball by completely turning his back to the defense. He allows the fullback to clear first and then the halfback.

After both backs have cleared, the QB will give the ball to the tailback as deep as possible, then proceed to carry out a bootleg fake to the backside.

[DIAGRAM 1 OMITTED]

DIAG. 2, WAGGLE PASS:

The play has the exact same faking action as Diag. 1. The fullback clears the A-gap and proceeds to run to the flat area at a depth of five yards.

The halfback picks up any defender in the area of the pulling guard, while the tailback makes a good roll-over fake and moves into the LOS to attack the closest defender he can contact.

The QB lets the fullback and halfback clear, makes a very good, deliberate fake to the tailback, then bootlegs and looks for receivers.

Usually, the playside tight end or the split end will run an eight-yard corner route, while the backside receiver will run an eight to nine-yard drag route.

[DIAGRAM 2 OMITTED]

DIAG. 3, HALFBACK WAGGLE SCREEN:

Any time the Tailback Counter Trap and the Waggle Pass are successful during a game, the Halfback Waggle Screen play can develop into a big play.

The screen looks like the waggle play. The fullback runs through the A-gap and proceeds to the five-yard flat area.

All receivers run the same routes as in the waggle.

The tailback accepts a fake from the QB and then moves to the LOS to find a LB to block.

The halfback drives to the outside tackle area, then pivots behind the LOS and moves to the five-yards flat area. Note: It's important for him to stay low as he moves into the outside tackle area. We want him to get lost in the misdirection.

The QB carries out the bootleg action as far as possible to sell the waggle pass, then sets an throws to the halfback behind the screen blockers.

[DIAGRAM 3 OMITTED]