Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RNS Houston is a play-action flood concept out of Pistol Trips Open with a single receiver split to the closed side. The backside X runs an out route as the lone outlet on that edge, while the trips side floods one level with a corner route from the outermost receiver, a deep seam from the middle slot, and an out breaking the opposite direction underneath it. This is a Cover 3 beater built to stretch the flat-to-deep third defender vertically and horizontally, with the primary read going corner route first, then working down to the seam and finally settling on the underneath out if the deep shot is not there.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the free safety depth and alignment since a rolled up single high look confirms the Cover 3 shell this play is designed to attack. Post-snap, key the flat defender or curl to flat zone defender on the trips side, if he sinks under the corner route the seam window opens underneath him. Watch for a user controlled defender jumping the underneath out route, which is the shallowest and most exposed throw in the concept. Man coverage with press corners can disrupt the corner route timing, so be ready to work the seam as the adjusted first read against man looks. Disguised blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge will pressure the quarterback before the play-action fake fully sells, so account for hot route protection on the backside out.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells before the snap since this concept is labeled a Cover 3 beater and thrives against a three deep, four under look.
Use the play-action element to hold linebackers and the underneath zone defender just long enough to let the corner route clear the deep third.
If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, be ready to check down quickly to the seam or the underneath out rather than forcing the corner throw.
Pair this call with RNS Houston Mesh or RNS Army from the same set to keep the defense guessing on similar formation looks while attacking different levels.
Best used on second or third and medium when you have time to let the play-action fake and the corner route develop downfield.
