Lincoln Riley's Screen Game

Lincoln Riley displayed a principle that I’ve been preaching in all the books I wrote. It’s called “Concept Layering” which starts with the base building block of your offense and stacks layers of nuance and complexity to that play.

One of the tope running plays that Lincoln Riley used at Oklahoma and continues to use at USC is GT Counter. The Concept Layering comes in that ways he dresses up GT Counter or how he uses GT Counter to pull the eyes of the defense in order to run something else.

This GT Counter Screen Sequence is a Master Class in Concept Layering!

Running Counter with the Grain

Jet and Fly Motion are able to move the defense with a legitimate run threat in the slot. It can prevent the Backside Defender from pursuing on Wide or Outside Zone away from the motion. Usually you see Jet or Fly Motion going the opposite direction from the complimentary run scheme, but using the widening effect on the Frontside can give room for Gap Schemes to operate. In the clip below, Purdue runs Jet with an Arc Release from the H-Back. GT Counter fits in on the heels of the Jet. The DE has been widened by the motion allowing for clear Kick/Lead sequence.

• Run GT Counter at the Shade/5 Side

• H-Back Arcs to Overhang

• Center Blocks Back on the 3 Technique

• RG Blocks Down on the Shade

• RT Climbs to the Will LB

• LG Kicks Out the 5 Technique

• LT Wraps for Mike LB

• QB Reads the Backside DE

Jet Motion widens the Playside DE for GT Counter and the QB reads the Backside DE. If your QB is enough of a threat to run, this play will be extremely difficult to defend without committing 8 to the Box. The Jet Motion also sets up a great Pop Pass to the H-Back on the Inside Seam.