2023 Lions Pin and Pull

Pin and Pull is an effective horizonal run play to complement gap scheme runs.

The Lions have one of the most diverse run games in the league, with variations of most schemes in their toolbox. Mixing Gap and Zone schemes can be much on an offensive line, especially if they have to learn them versus multiple fronts and formations.

The Lions were predominantly a Zone team, with gap schemes used to complement them. Pin and Pull was one of their most used gap schemes. This can be an expensive play with many moving parts depending on the front. The Lions eliminated the burden by only running Pin and Pull out of a few formations, and only versus specific looks.

The Lions would only run pin and pull to a B gap defender play-side and out of the shotgun. In doing this they assured that the play-side tackle would always be pinning, and the play-side guard and center would always be the pullers.