Playbooks
Breakdown
Hitch Corners is a five wide route concept out of the Shotgun 5WR Trio set with no running back protection shown, meaning it is a max protect pass concept with 11 personnel spread across the formation. The backside outside receiver runs a corner route while the backside slot runs a quick hitch underneath, and on the trips side the two outside receivers push vertical corner routes while the inside slot receiver runs a hitch at the sticks. This is a zone beater built to stress the flat to deep quarter defenders with a high low corner combo on both sides, and the primary read progression starts with the trips side corner routes working outside in before checking down to either hitch as an underneath safety valve.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety alignment first since two deep safeties usually signal a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell that this play is designed to attack with the dual corner routes. Watch cornerback press versus off alignment, since off coverage corners are more vulnerable to the hitch stopping in front of them for an easy completion. Post-snap, key the flat defenders and curl to flat zone droppers since they have to choose between sitting on the hitch and carrying the corner route vertically. Look for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since that defender can rob the inside hitch route if the quarterback stares it down too long. This concept struggles against aggressive Cover 3 sky or Cover 1 robber looks where an underneath defender can jump the hitch route in front of the trips receivers, so check for late rotation before committing to the shorter throw.
Usage Tips
Use this play on third and medium to third and long situations where the sticks routes from the hitches give you a built in checkdown against zone drops.
Pre-snap, identify two high safety shells since the corner routes are designed to split the deep quarters and create natural leverage against Cover 2 and Cover 4 defenders.
If you see man coverage press at the line, hot route one of the hitch routes into a quick slant or option route to give yourself a faster access throw against off man leverage.
Sequence this play after running Curl Flats or Spacing to condition zone defenders to sit on shorter routes, then hit the corner route over the top once the defense bites.
Against single high safety shells, prioritize the trips side corner route matchup since the deep defender has to choose between two vertical stems and cannot help on both.
