Playbooks
Middle Hi Lo
Breakdown
Middle Hi Lo out of Shotgun Box Offset Wk is a play-action dagger concept built around a true hi lo read on the play side. The X receiver runs a deep post while the TE releases underneath into a dig sitting right underneath that post, creating the high low stretch on the safety, and the HB works a flat route out of the backfield to hold the linebacker. On the backside, the far outside receiver runs a go route to occupy the corner and safety deep while the inside slot receiver runs a deep out breaking away toward the sideline, giving you a two-way go if the defense overplays the dagger side. The primary read progression starts with the dig underneath the post, working down to the flat if the linebacker sits, then working backside to the deep out on the two-way go if the middle of the field is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Watch the deep safety alignment before the snap: two high shells invite the dig read while single high tells you to attack with the post and backside out. Post snap, key the middle linebacker's drop depth since he determines whether the dig sits in a soft window or gets undercut. Man coverage on the TE is a green light for the dig to win off the post's clear out, so look for press or trail technique on the tight end pre-snap. If the defense shows a lurking user at the second level near the dig, work the hi lo down to the flat instead of forcing the throw. Zone blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can rattle the play-action fake, so check for overloaded fronts and speed up your first read.
Usage Tips
Use the play-action fake to freeze linebackers before your dig route sits down in the honey hole between the shallow and deep zones.
Diagnose the safety shell pre-snap: against single high look off the dig and go straight to the backside deep out for an explosive gain.
Against Cover 3 the post occupies the deep third defender while the dig settles in the vacated zone, so trust the hi lo read and progress top down.
Hot route the HB to a check release if you sense a blitz off the edge so you have a scan defender for protection before working him into the flat.
Pair this with Curl Flat or Strong Flood from the same set to keep linebackers guessing between shallow crossers and dagger shots down the field.
