Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Angle out of Shotgun Box Offset Wk sends the running back on an angle route out of the backfield, breaking toward the sideline into the flat after selling a release up the field, which puts immediate stress on linebackers in man coverage. The two inside receivers run a deep out and a corner/post combo off the slot to hold safeties and clear the underneath area, while the outside receivers stem into a vertical and a dig/curl to occupy the cornerbacks. This is a man beater built around the HB Angle route as the primary read, with the progression starting on the angle route out of the backfield before working to the underneath breaking routes if a linebacker sits in coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker or the defender aligned over the HB pre-snap, if he is playing tight man technique without help, the angle route will beat him to the flat. Identify single high safety looks, which usually indicate man coverage underneath and signal that the angle route is the go-to read. Against zone coverage look for a linebacker sitting in the flat or hook zone, since he can undercut the angle route and force the quarterback to the deeper breaking routes on the outside. Be alert for a user-controlled linebacker spying or shading toward the backfield, since that defender can jump the angle route and turn it into a turnover if the QB throws on autopilot. Blitzes off the edge with no delay can beat this play if the angle route is not designed as a hot answer, so check protection and confirm the HB releases quickly rather than staying in to block.
Usage Tips
Check the leverage of the defender covering the HB pre-snap, if a linebacker is aligned tight to the box with no safety help over the top, the angle route is going to win almost every time.
Use the angle route as an answer to blitzes since the HB releases quickly to the flat and gives the quarterback a fast, easy throw against pressure.
Hot route the backside outside receiver into a quick out or slant if you diagnose zone coverage, since the natural route combo is designed more for man beating.
Best called on early downs or third and short, since the angle route picks up consistent yardage but is not designed to threaten deep against zone shells.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Slot Trail from the same set so the defense cannot key on the HB releasing every snap, keeping linebackers honest in man coverage.
