College Football Film Room: Breaking down 3 unique plays

1. Clemson Tigers- Quarterback Counter Trey

The counter-trey was invented (from what I know) by Joe Gibbs with the Washington Redskins. He ran his from under center and a running back got the football. His backside offensive tackle and guard would pull let’s say left, and the running back would get the ball going right, then change direction and follow his offensive linemen that are pulling to the left side.

The guard will “kick” or block the first person that shows out to the sideline. The tackle will “wrap” or pull and come through the hole between the play side guard and tackle and block the inside linebacker. The running back follows behind that “wrap” tackle and uses him as a lead blocker.

In the modern era of the dual-threat Quarterback, you get what Clemson has done with success against Auburn and Louisville with Kelly Bryant. They’ve incorporated a jet motion, a fake sweep, a three wide receiver look, and using the quarterback as the ball carrier and calling it a Quarterback Counter Trey. It’s a modern look at a play that won Joe Gibbs three Super Bowls in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Now we’re going to kick it old school with Georgia Tech’s counter option play that gave the Volunteers fits back on Labor Day weekend.