Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Shock Slot Option lines up out of Shotgun 5WR Trio with a five wide receiver look and no in line blocking, so this is a pure pass concept with the QB relying on the offensive line for a clean pocket (the red route shows a vertical seam threat from the inside slot that could double as a hot route if the protection breaks down). On the trio side the outside receiver runs a deep corner while the receiver next to him breaks into a quick option route, giving the QB a built in man/zone read on the same rep. Backside, one receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers while the other sits underneath as an option route, creating a two level stretch on that side. The primary read starts with the boundary option route working the underneath defender, then progresses to the corner route and vertical shots if the option is covered or if a blitz forces the ball out quickly, making this both a man beater (via the option route breaking off the defender's leverage) and a zone beater (via the vertical routes stretching the deep zones).
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot cornerback's depth and hips at the snap, if he sits low expecting a short route, the option receiver should break outside for the conversion read. Key the safety over the trio side, if he rotates down to help on the option route it opens up the corner route running behind him for a big play. Man coverage with no help over the top on the seam/vertical routes is the biggest liability this play attacks, so look for single high shells or Cover 1 without a deep third defender rotating over. Disguised zone blitzes can bait the QB into throwing the option route into a sinking linebacker, so if the underneath defenders show late zone drops instead of committing to the option receiver, expect a jump on that route. Two high safety shells with disciplined outside corners force the QB into the option route as a checkdown, so sitting on that route with a user defender can shut down the easy completion.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone leverage on the slot option receivers since their route conversion depends on defender positioning.
If the corners are playing off coverage, prioritize the option routes for a quick, high percentage completion before the corner routes have time to develop.
Use this play on second and medium to third and short situations where the option route conversion gives the QB a safe checkdown against blitz pressure.
Pair this call with Curl Flats or Stick earlier in a drive to condition the defense to expect short zone beaters, then hit the vertical corner and seam routes off Shock Slot Option for an explosive play.
Against aggressive blitz packages, get the ball out quickly to the option route since the five wide receiver empty-style protection can be vulnerable to overload pressure.
