From: rich@grebyn.com (Richard Lawrence)
Subject: Re: football question - counter trey
Organization: Grebyn Timesharing
Distribution: dc
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 03:11:35 GMT

In article <TOML.92Oct5122831@nightowl.xrxedds.UUCP> toml@xrxedds.UUCP (Tom Love) writes:
>
>a previous poster mentioned the counter trey, a play the skins use
>frequently and often with great success.  could anyone describe the
>basic strategy of the play, the assignments of responsibility to
>various offensive personnel, when it is best used, how it's used by
>the skins, where the name comes from, and/or any other interesting info?

Ok, here we go:                          TE = Tight End
                1   2  3  4  5  6         T = Tackle
                TE  T  G  C  G  T         G = Guard
                        QB                C = Center
                        RB               QB = Quarterback
                                         RB = Running Back

We'll assume the direction of this play is right (the Redskins play it
both ways). At the snap, the opposing side tackle and guard (2 and 3 in
this diagram) pull to the inside. Simultaneously the RB moves forward
and takes the snap, moving at least one step to the OPPOSITE direction
of the play (left here). This is the "counter" of the counter trey, the
counter step to try to fake the defense. After the counter the RB moves
to the correct side, where he should be led by both the guard and
tackle. The blocking on the far side by the pulling G/T is called a
trey, so that's the other half of the play.

There are plenty of variations here - the TE can line up on either side,
for instance, but the key blocking always remains the same. The near
side G and T usually end up with a nose tackle and defensive end between
them, and hopefully when the far side G/T show up they end up in a
mismatch (against a linebacker).

Keys to this play are:

1) The near side guard and tackle must do their job - that is, they must
get the NT/DE on their side moving backwards, because it's going to get
very crowded in about two seconds.

2) The pulling guard and tackle must have extremely fast lateral
movement for somebody at their position. This is the key to the Redskins
success with this play - they practice so much they are just faster at
it.

3) The center is very important, even if he doesn't move. He has to make
a quick decision whether to block the NT right in front of him or DT
(defensive tackle) to his side and do it right.

This play is simple in concept but requires precise execution. When
properly executed it can be devasting, especially to a small defensive
front (look for Gibbs to REALLY draw on this play against Denver). It's
best used against very quick pursuit defenses, since they are prone to
biting on the counter move (the linebackers and DT's will watch the RB
on the play instead of the line, an important key).

There are a couple of ways to stop the counter trey. You can have an
extremely fast DE disrupt it by coming around the backside, assuming the
TE is on the near side or misses his block. A really smart linebacker
can read the pull and insert himself between the blocks of the near side
guard and tackle and catch the running back as he comes through.

One of the interesting things we never try to do is run a counter trey
fake. There are two wide receivers to play with in the formation, and if
the play has been run consistently throughout the game you can usually
get the linebackers to come in close, leaving a big soft spot about 5-7
yards off the ball in the middle of the field. However, it's Gibbs
offense, and I'm sure he's decided that's not a smart play for some
reason.

>just trying to enrich my appreciation of the game (yesterday's game
>notwithstanding). 
>

I have stood behind Rypien up until this point. He had pressure before,
but on those last two interceptions there wasn't significant pressure.
Not only that, it was the same read, same play, SAME DEFENDER, and there
was nothing complicated about. A high school quarterback should have
been able to read that and dump to the halfback in the flat.
>thx.
>--
>
>-----
>
>Tom Love
>Xerox Engineering Systems / Engineering Document Management Systems
>607 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA 22070  Voice 703-787-2027  Intelnet 8-440-2027
>				     Fax 703-787-2110
>Internet:   toml@xrxedds.com
>            toml.herndon@xerox.com
>UUCP:       ...!uunet!xrxedds!toml
>XNS:        toml:herndon:xerox


-- 
Rich Lawrence, Synoptics Systems Engineer	rich@grebyn.com
Newsgroups: dc.redskins