Back in January, I broke down A&M's Power play, where we used 22 personnel to bludgeon New Mexico's 3-4 defense. Today, we're going to look at how we can run off-tackle using those same power elements, but with 11 personnel.

Here the offense is lined up against Iowa State:

Texas A&M offense 11 personnel vs. Iowa State

Here we have Jerrod Johnson at QB, Cyrus Gray at TB, and Jamie McCoy (#4) on the line at TE. We have 1 back, 1 TE, and 3 WRs, so 11 personnel. Gray is aligned Far, on the opposite side of the TE. Iowa State is in a 4-3 Over front, with the NT and DT shaded to the strongside of the formation. I think the secondary is in a Cover 2 shell, but can't be certain since neither the image nor the game video shows the whole secondary.

Iowa State has their defensive personnel on the field to stop the run. Notice how strongside LB (Sam) is just off the LOS, shaded off the strongside DE. The MLB (Mike) is aligned right over the DT-DE gap on the strongside. Clearly, Iowa State is betting we're coming strongside, and they're in position with seven people on that side of the field to stop the play.

Now we're going to look at the play right at the snap:

Right as the ball is snapped.

Now you can begin to see what is going to happen on this play. LG Evan Eike is beginning to pull around to the strongside. #63 C Kevin Matthews is pinning Iowa State NT inside, forcing him to the backside away from the play. RG Joe Villavisencio and RT Lee Grimes are double-teaming the strongside DT. The table is set for the whole defensive front to be moved to the left, with Eike coming right to kickout the  EMLOS (End Man on the Line of Scrimmage). Notice Gray is moving from left to right, going towards the strongside as he prepares to take the handoff. LT Michael Shumard ignores the weakside DE as he begins to move to the second level to take on the weakside (Will) LB.

As the ball is handed off the Gray, everything begins to come into focus.

Ball is handed off.

Jamie McCoy has pinned the SDE inside, and the Sam LB has come up to fill the gap. Evan Eike now knows who his EMLOS aiming point is. Notice how the backside DE is frozen, not coming upfield, trying to read if Johnson has given the ball to Gray, or is keeping it to go backside. This read is why Shumard is able to ignore him and go upfield. All Gray needs to do now is follow Eike, and slip under his block.

Now as Eike begins to hit his block, we have a new issue:

Eike kicks out the Sam LB

Notice how Lee Grimes and Joe Villvasencio are at the right of the picture, well into the second level and blocking downfield.However, the Mike LB has read the play well, and is now in position to tackle Gray for no gain. Gray is deftly cutting inside Eike's block, but Mike is right there to stop him. Two things happen here which partially explain why this play went from a no-gain/sure loss to a positve play.

Gray gets through the hole.

Gray gets through the hole and puts on a burst of speed, as Mike makes the mistake of lowering his head, anticipating the tackle. Gray blows inside and past him, making Mike overrun the play. Now Gray is free and in a foot race, with a phalanx of Aggie blockers ahead of him and the other ISU defenders at a bad angle to cut him off.

Gray breaking it free.

He reads his blocks, cuts to his right, protected by a wall of Aggies.

Gray cutting outside around his blockers.

Gray is now free to run for the endzone, which he does, for a 27 yd TD.

Here is what the play looks like in real time:

Cyrus Gray runs for a TD.

This off-tackle run with 11 personnel exemplifies the type of offense Mike Sherman wants to run; being able to run with power and overwhelm the defense with numbers at the point of attack, regardless of personnel on the field. The big challenge for our offense in the 2009 season will be duplicating this kind of play consistently. Proper execution will hinge on the offensive line, which hopefully will be improved over last season.