Chalk Talk: Joe Bugel Counter Game (EDIT: 70 CHIP explained in post #16)

[KDawg]

Joe Bugel, the head honcho of the Hogs, was part of a brain trust of our three Super Bowl wins. Bugel will tell you himself, however, that the entire offense was installed by the entire offensive staff at Joe Gibbs wishes. That meant the OL coach knew the receivers responsibilities just as well as the RB coach knew the QBs. Everything was done together, as one, with unity.

Obviously, Coach Bugel and Gibbs really enjoyed running the football. For those that don't know, Buges worked with Woody Hayes and Bum Phillips as well as Joe Gibbs in his stints as an offensive line coach. So he worked with some absolutely outstanding football minds.

Woody Hayes was a guy who, for all intents in purposes, went into the game planning on running the ball 73 out of 75 times, and as Buges says, "those two passes might be two button hooks".

Bum Phillips kept it simple, he only had a hand full of offensive plays at the team's disposal. Which was different than Coach Gibbs. Gibbs came in with the Air Coryell playbook. Twenty plus run combos, various pass protections, and over 150 route combinations. The first thing Buges and Gibbs did when they got to Washington was to parse down the playbook. There were a few running plays in their arsental, but Buges speaks most highly of 40/50 Slant, 40/50 Gut and the Counter Game.

One of the biggest things about Gibbs and Buges was that they wanted to practice every day in full pads, with the idea that as the season went on their guys would be so calloused they'd be in better shape than their opponents. And it helped them win three Super Bowls. But they weren't dumb by the same token. They didn't go full go in these practices, they wanted to keep everyone up.

In my last Chalk Talk, about Tight Zone, I talked about Alex Gibbs and how he utilized the cut block in one of the replies. Joe Bugel doesn't believe in the cut block. He likes to keep big guys upright.

One of the itneresting things about Buges, is he didn't make the left side of the line get in a left handed stance (A left handed stance is where your left foot is back and your left hand is down. It's utilized to keep your kick foot back in pass protection to help you get depth quicker and prevent penetration from the defensive end). Everyone has their style, and you can't argue Buges success.

:helmet:COUNTER GAME:helmet:

Let's start out with the most famous play of them all. The HS team I coach runs this play, except we call it "Redskin" in honor of the team that made this play famous. This was the Redskins' bread and butter run series:

Counter Trey

The "Trey" portion is the famous part of the play, but it's not the only way to run counter, and the 'Skins changed what they did against different defenses and looks. The counter part was their staple, the trey just became famous verbiage.

First off, any blue on the diagram is a motion. Any red is a block.

This is based against a 3-4 defense, which the Giants ran with a guy named Lawrence Taylor... You may have heard of him.

Basically, in the counter game, you always want a double team playside and one or two pulls coming from the backside. Definition wise, playside is the side where the play is designed to go, and backside is the side that's "behind" the play.

So, in the counter trey vs. the 3-4, the TREY block itself it the TE/T double team on the defensive end. You see that on the right side of the diagram. The TE takes an inside "gap" step, sealing off his gap and exploding into the defensive end. The tackle steps to the defensive end and also explodes into him. But he only does so for two steps, he then peels off and finds the FAR linebacker.

The playside guard blocks down on the nose. Angles are important and he has a great one.

The center is going to do something that Buges refers to as, "break glass". Basically, that son of a gun is turning and running until he hits something. Ideally, you want it to be the backside defensive end.

The backside guard is going to pull off the center's butt. His job on counter is to always hit the first man outside the playside tackle. In this case, although I don't list the position, it's the SAM (strongside backer).

The backside tackle is pulling as well, but he's going to get a yard of depth deeper than the guard. Why? If that End breaks through, he can easily disrupt the flow of the play, so by getting depth, the tackle can stay on his assignment without disruption. When he pulls, he's staying in the guards hip pocket, looking off his own inside shoulder. He'll then peel off and block the near backer, which in this instance is the MIKE.

As you can see, the Z receiver motions in this version of the play, and his only job is to create a wall where he stops his motion. He CANNOT allow backside penetration. Whether it's the end of the WILL backer, he MUST slow them down.

The HB is aligned in the I formation on this play. At the snap, he's going playside and off the butt of the TE then going directly to the strong safety.

The tailback is going to take a jab step to the backside to get the linebackers to flow, then he's cutting back and following his pulling linemen.

The counter trey could also be run against a 4-3 UNDER defense which is diagrammed here:

This time, the HBack is aligned on the left side of the formation, off the line of scrimmage. The TE (or Y) is on the line of scrimmage on the right side of the formation. It's a TREY block, which again, means TE/T double team.

So the TE/T double the end. After two steps, the tackle once again aborts and goes to the far backer.

The playside guard is going to take the angle on the 1-tech defender (1-tech = defender in the A-Gap) and blow him out of the play.

The center is "breaking glass" again, and MUST blow up that 3-tech defender. If that 3-tech is a real pain in the ass, the HB is going to help, I'll explain that in a second.

The backside guard is pulling, hitting the first man passed the tackle on the playside, which is again the SAM backer.

The backside tackle is also doing the same. Getting a yard deeper than the guard and blowing up the MIKE backer.

The HBack's role changes a bit. He's replacing the pulling guard once the tackle gets out of the way. He's the seal player, or the wall player, like the Z was in the first diagram vs. the 3-4 defense. He can help seal the 3-tech if the center struggles, or, ideally, he will seal off the defensive end to stop backside penetration.

The tailback takes the jab step and goes follows his blockers. Once again, the jab is to create linebacker blow to the wrong direction.

Here's one of my favorite "Bugeisms". The receivers go to block the safeties. Why not the corners? Because, as Buges says, "they're zombies" because if they try to make the tackle against the 'Skins backs, their "dead men walking".

So far, you've seen the TREY version of counter diagrammed twice against different defenses. Well, now we'll get into Counter Deuce Angle[/u[

If a TREY was a TE/Tackle block, one could logically assume a DEUCE is a tackle/guard block. And if you did, you'd be correct

The premise is the same, and this play is being run against a 46 defense, much like Buddy Ryan's Eagles ran.

The TE (or Y) is shutting down his inside gap and sealing the defensive end.

The PSG (playside guard) and PST (playside tackle) are doubling the 3-technique (defensive linemen aligned on the outside shoulder of the guard). They double for two steps, then the guard breaks off and takes on the nose tackle.

The center is breaking glass again, attacking the defensive end on the backside.

The BSG (backside guard) and BST (backside tackle) are once again pulling. Guard blocks first man outside the tackle (which some could argue is the end, but we've taken care of him, so he goes to the SAM). The tackle looks inside to MIKE.

The HB is the seal player yet again.

This next one is a double tight formation. In this diagram, there is a TE on the LOS on the right side of the formation. There is ANOTHER tight end off the LOS directly next to him. And directly next to him is the HB.

I present you Counter Load O.T. (O.T. is simply OFF TACKLE)

I like this play a lot because there are two double teams.

First off, the HB is the motion man. He sets up and creates the wall to seal the backside to prevent penetration, just like he has in other versions and the Z does in the first version we went over.

The two tight ends are going to seal their gap and double team, once again, for two steps. After two steps, the inside aligned TE (the one on the LOS) aborts and he attacks the NEAR backer.

You get another DEUCE block with the PSG and PST. After two steps, the PSG aborts and goes to the FAR backer.

Center breaks glass on the 1-tech.

BSG/BST pull.

Now, let's change course. Buges ran this next one with the Raiders when he had Napoleon Kauffman as his back. Kauffman was a quick little ****.

This one is called Counter O.F. (Off Fullback)

There are two receivers aligned to the left of the diagram. The fullback is offset in a WEAK I formation.

If the DE on the playside is aligned outside the tackle, and the SAM is walked up on the LOS outside the TE, the PST will make a "TRIGGER" call.

Basically, they're taking their guys in a man blocking scheme.

The PSG is going to block down and take on the 1-tech.

On this version of the play, the center does NOT break glass. He shuffle steps to replace the pulling guard. He's responsible for the 3-tech.

The BSG pulls and will pick up the MIKE this time, because the SAM has been accounted for.

That means the BST doesn't have a responsibility. So what he does is take a shuffle step inside to seal the B-Gap (the gap between the guard and tackle) and then swings to prevent the defensive end from penetrating.

The X receiver (the slot receiver on the left of this diagram) goes to the strong safety who is walked up in the box.

The fullback has the most important role on this play. He needs to come RIGHT off the pulling guard's hip and pick up the WILL linebacker.

First off, I know my diagrams blow. I apologize

But this was the counter game that we know and love. The Redskins also had several other versions, including O.Y. (Off Tight End), a pass, a screen and a reverse off of it. That kept defenses honest. They couldn't commit completely to stopping the Trey, or Deuce because then good ol' Saint Joe would hit them with some trickery.

Hope this was helpful to some wanting to learn more about our counter game, let me know if you have anything to add or any questions. I'll answer them the best I can. Although, let's remember, I'm not Joe Bugel

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

WOOT! Two CT's in a week! :party: :groupwave:

Now Coach is rocking and rolling again! :dj:

Hail.

[The Rook]

"Dead man walking"

That is hilarious!

"helmet" The Rook

[pjfootballer]

The first diagram is almost like the 70 chip play Riggins ran in SB 17. Now you can see why teams had so many problems diagnosing what was coming at them, because the formations look almost exact.

[Jumbo]

Fantastic work KDawg (again). Love the little history-facts trips you include. If I had the power to make reading your Chalk Talk threads mandatory, I would.

[Silencer6091]

I really enjoy reading these...keep 'em coming...

[Skin'Em84]

Dude, I will buy you a bottle of Jack if you come to my house one day during a game with a whiteboard and do what you just did.

[Brotherz]

I love these things. Great job Kdawg.

[HailGreen28]

Thank you KDAWG! :notworthy:

[KDawg]

WOOT! Two CT's in a week! :party: :groupwave:

Now Coach is rocking and rolling again! :dj:

Hail.

Not sure for how long, though. But yah. Two in a week.

"Dead man walking"

That is hilarious!

Yeah. Buges cracks me up.

The first diagram is almost like the 70 chip play Riggins ran in SB 17. Now you can see why teams had so many problems diagnosing what was coming at them, because the formations look almost exact.

That's the basic plan. Teams with small playbooks can run plays from various formations using motions and shifts and offset alignments. By doing that, you throw defenses for a loop. When you stick to one formation and run the same play out of it 400 times, you're easier to figure out. When your playbook is 800 pages (omg! Al Saunders! ) it's harder for your players to learn. So why have such an extensive playbook when you can run 20-30 total plays out of 20-30 formations and motions? It looks like 400 plays, but in reality, it's 20. And it's much easier to pick up and understand for your offense

Fantastic work KDawg (again). Love the little history-facts trips you include. If I had the power to make reading your Chalk Talk threads mandatory, I would.

Thank you, sir.

I really enjoy reading these...keep 'em coming...

I'll try my best

Dude' date=' I will buy you a bottle of Jack if you come to my house one day during a game with a whiteboard and do what you just did.[/quote']

I don't really drink. Got anything else?

I love these things. Great job Kdawg.

Thanks for reading!

Thank you KDAWG! :notworthy:

Pfft. Thank Buges for putting the information out there so I can share it and learn it and coach it

[CrypticVillain]

Question:

How difficult is to run a playaction of a counter? Would the only differnce be the way the linemen block? Would they have to sell the run?

[KDawg]

Question:

How difficult is to run a playaction of a counter? Would the only differnce be the way the linemen block? Would they have to sell the run?

It's not difficult in the least. Some schools I know of won't pull the guard or tackle, which to me is a dead giveaway. But sometimes it's necessary to allow for maximum routes and maximum protections. I like to pull the guard on a "whiskey" pull. Essentially, the pulling guard pulls for more depth and becomes a personal protector for the quarterback. A well coached and well disciplined quarterback and guard combo can be lethal. That guard can lead the QB down field if he decides to tuck and go, or he could seal off penetration to give the quarterback more time to throw.

You definitely want to sell the run. Playaction pass pro is an aggressive run blocking step, but not much more than that, or you wind up going downfield.. Which as we know results in a penalty. But that slight pause will freeze backers and delay them into their drops.

[pjfootballer]

That's the basic plan. Teams with small playbooks can run plays from various formations using motions and shifts and offset alignments. By doing that, you throw defenses for a loop. When you stick to one formation and run the same play out of it 400 times, you're easier to figure out. When your playbook is 800 pages (omg! Al Saunders! ) it's harder for your players to learn. So why have such an extensive playbook when you can run 20-30 total plays out of 20-30 formations and motions? It looks like 400 plays, but in reality, it's 20. And it's much easier to pick up and understand for your offense

I'd love to see your diagram and explanation of 70 chip, since that is our most famous play in our history. Buges describes it breifly in the NFL films version, but I'd love to see it from you. If you have time or want to.:cool:

[MartinC]

Nice job KDawg.

The funny thing is when I coached in the UK back in the late 80's our staple running plays where a 35/36 slant which was our version of 40/50 slant, 40/50 Gut and Counter Try and Counter Load. We ran them from a variety of sets (single back and two back, 2 TEs and 2 WR and 1 TE 3 WR) and motions and had play action passes off all of them. This series was about 60% of our base offense.

We ran a waggle action off Counter Load and hit the HB who had faked a backside block and then leaked out behind the rushing OLB for nice picks ups a LOT.

[Oldfan]

The Counter Trey, among the most dominant plays in the game's history, sprang from an unlikely source. "The whole counter started when we saw some film on Nebraska in the early '80s. Tom Osborne was doing some really innovative things with his line up front, and we were watching it and thought, God, that's good stuff. So we stole it. We had no pride whatsoever, and really, nobody does in this game. We all steal things." ~ Joe Gibbs

[KDawg]

Nice job KDawg.

The funny thing is when I coached in the UK back in the late 80's our staple running plays where a 35/36 slant which was our version of 40/50 slant, 40/50 Gut and Counter Try and Counter Load. We ran them from a variety of sets (single back and two back, 2 TEs and 2 WR and 1 TE 3 WR) and motions and had play action passes off all of them. This series was about 60% of our base offense.

We ran a waggle action off Counter Load and hit the HB who had faked a backside block and then leaked out behind the rushing OLB for nice picks ups a LOT.

You can do pretty much anything with these plays. You just need to key blocks to be maintained. I've drawn up ways to run these plays from pretty much any look imaginable. Once the game starts to sink in your head, the possibilities are endless.

The Counter Trey, among the most dominant plays in the game's history, sprang from an unlikely source. "The whole counter started when we saw some film on Nebraska in the early '80s. Tom Osborne was doing some really innovative things with his line up front, and we were watching it and thought, God, that's good stuff. So we stole it. We had no pride whatsoever, and really, nobody does in this game. We all steal things." ~ Joe Gibbs

Great addition to the thread, OF. And it's true. No one originates this stuff any more. Concepts may be original, but pieces are usually taken from other people's thoughts. I'm not sure if there are new thoughts anymore . Although, there are certainly new applications

I'd love to see your diagram and explanation of 70 chip, since that is our most famous play in our history. Buges describes it breifly in the NFL films version, but I'd love to see it from you. If you have time or want to.:cool:

Sure. Straight from the Redskins playbook, here's an excerpt:

This is an off-tackle play using man blocking with POWER ZONE principles built into the blocking scheme. This play is designed for the ball carrier to run off of the onside tight ends block. The lead back must read the intentions of the onside linebacker to support. It is important that the lead back read the Tight End's block in order to determine whether to CHIP on level 1 or level 2

Coach Bill Mountjoy sent me that, I also have the entire playbook (one that I've had, though it seems I was missing the page for 70 CHIP).

But to explain it, which the playbook doesnt really do in layman's terms...

60/70 has many varieties in the playbook. Just as 40/50 does. 40/50 GUT, one of the 'Skins most famous plays is simple inside (or tight) zone. You know, what I did my last chalk talk on. GUT is just a variation of the blocking scheme. 60/70 is simply outside zone, and CHIP is a blocking variation.

CHIP tells the HB he's chipping. Who he chips is determined by flow of the play.

In the Super Bowl, HB Clint Didier went in motion to his right, and then came back to his left, and his defender that was to follow him tripped. That led to Didier to having a free lane to the strong safety who was rotated up into the box. The man that was to follow Wonsley in motion receovered, only to be the guy that Riggins shrugged off on his way to the touchdown.

The play was run from I Left (Strong TE aligned left), Tight Wing (the receiver, or the player assigned to that role, was in a wing formation to the left), 70 Chip.

The 70 designation meant the play was meant to go left. If it were 60, it would be designed to go right.

There's the diagram. I circled the rolled up strong safety. Didier went in motion right (blue) and came back left (green) and then flattened the SS. The LG/C were zone blocking the DT and MIKE backer. The backside blockers were cut off blockers, not to be confused with cut blockers. They took a harsh angle and walled off their defender.

The rest was his-tor-y. With a capital TD.

[pjfootballer]

I thought Didier went in motion?

[KDawg]

I thought Didier went in motion?

Correct. Not sure why I typed Wonsley.

[Skin'Em84]

Count Bill Mountjoy sent me that, I also have the entire playbook (one that I've had, though it seems I was missing the page for 70 CHIP).

Curious, is there any way for the average person to get a playbook? It doesn't even have to be the redskins.

[KDawg]

First, thanks for making me realize I typed "Count" Bill Mountjoy. I'm sure he'd enjoy being called "Count", but I meant Coach

Second:

a TON are available online.

Google "fast and furious football"

They have HS, college, pro, offense, defense, special teams, and drills.

[scruffylookin]

Good stuff as usual. Small nit. Bugel wasn't around for the three Super Bowls. He was in his second year as the Cardinals head coach when the Skins won their third title.

[KDawg]

Good stuff as usual. Small nit. Bugel wasn't around for the three Super Bowls. He was in his second year as the Cardinals head coach when the Skins won their third title.

Physically he wasn't... But his finger print was all over that third one

[darrelgreenie]

Nice work as usual.

I'm a big fan of the counter; its a staple play of most successful running offenses.

Many college football teams already finds ways to add their base runs into their shotgun sets.

As the NFL adpots more and more shotgun spread sets/concepts translating base runs like the counter into shotgun spread formations will become essential.

Here's a clip of Gus Malzahn running the counter from offset shotgun:

Here's Chudzinski (borrowing from Malzahn) mixing the spread with the counter that takes advantage of the QB as a goalline runner that we might see in our own offense:

---------- Post added April-1st-2012 at 03:10 PM ----------

Curious' date=' is there any way for the average person to get a playbook? It doesn't even have to be the redskins.[/quote']Playbooks of all levels are available for free on the internet.

I've even found some really good ones.

Scribd has Walsh's actual Stanford playbook out there.

Monte Kiffin's playbook form the Vikings is out there too.