East Coast
Offense

The eleven plays · Run

Undertow

Counter

RunHarbor RightTide motionAway from the Hinge

Same motion, same first step by Anchor, but the pullers and the ball come back the other way.

  • Ball carrier
  • Pass route
  • Block
  • Fake
  • Tide motion before the snap
  • Defender
Strength rightFlip the diagram
5 yd10 ydTGCGTMSHJQA
Quick side line
Wall. Guard and center double the nose, tackle climbs to the linebacker.
Strong guard
Pull and kick out the end man on the quick side.
Hinge
Wrap. Follow the guard, turn up inside his block, lead through the hole.
Anchor
One hard step to the Hinge side, then follow the Hinge.
Quarterback
Flash to Jet, hand to Anchor, boot to the Hinge side to hold the backside end.

Linebackers who chase Jet or Anchor’s first step are out of the play.

Drawn from

Harbor. Every diagram is drawn to scale against a four-man front with two deep safeties, as one example; the assignments are rules and hold against any front.

On the call sheet

Four-minute, protecting a lead 18% · 1st and 10 14% · 2nd and 4 to 6 14% · Red zone, 20 to 6 14%. The whole table →

Common questions

About Undertow

What kind of play is Undertow?
Counter, a run that goes away from the Hinge. Same motion, same first step by Anchor, but the pullers and the ball come back the other way.
Which formations is Undertow called from?
The base drawing is from Harbor. On the call sheet its formation mix is Harbor 45%, Cape 25%, Pier 15%, Jetty 15%. It carries Tide motion on about 65 percent of its calls.
When is Undertow most likely to be called?
Its largest weights on the base Tide Table are Four-minute, protecting a lead (18%), 1st and 10 (14%), 2nd and 4 to 6 (14%). The exact numbers are a first draft for a staff to adjust.
What does the line do on Undertow?
Quick side line: Wall. Guard and center double the nose, tackle climbs to the linebacker.
What does Undertow pair with?
Boardwalk. Each run has one paired pass from the same look and to the same side, and the Storm check sends the offense to the paired play when the quarterback counts eight or more in the box.
What is the coaching point on Undertow?
Linebackers who chase Jet or Anchor’s first step are out of the play.