2023 West Virginia Gap Schemes

How one of the top rushing attacks in the nation utilized Counter and Power.

The 2023 season saw the West Virginia Mountaineers committing to a physical, downhill rushing attack, with Gap Running Schemes at the heart of their offensive strategy. The Mountaineers relied heavily on the Counter play, which emerged as their most frequently called run. Complementing this was the Power Read scheme, which added an option element and complemented their dual-threat Quarterback Garrett Greene.

The Counter Play: West Virginia's Bread and Butter

The Counter play became the cornerstone of West Virginia's running game in 2023. This play is a classic Gap Scheme run designed to block down and kick out at the point of attack. The Mountaineers were good at changing up their looks and variations of the play to attack any front they faced.

Traditionally, counter uses the guard to trap or kick out, and has either the tackle or tight end pull with him to lead up on the linebacker. West Virginia’s counter has a small wrinkle, they will pull their guard or center depending on the front. If the defense presents an A-gap defender, the guard will pull. But if the defense has a B gap defender backside, they will pull the center.

This is because it makes for an easier cutoff block on the backside. Instead of having the center work to the backside B gap, the guard bases the defender. This minimizes the potential for penetration. If you have an athletic center that can snap and pull, this is a great way to run the play.

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