Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Scat is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Box Offset Wk with 11 personnel that combines a boundary flat/wheel combo with a field side out and go stack. To the left, the running back releases on a flat/wheel route while the TE runs a short crossing route underneath, and to the right the slot receiver runs a quick out that breaks upfield into a vertical seam while the outside receiver clears vertically. This is a man beater at its core, using the wheel route to exploit linebackers or safeties who try to carry the RB in man coverage, with the primary read starting on the boundary wheel before working to the field side vertical stack.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify whether the linebacker responsible for the running back is stacked inside or shaded wide, a wide alignment signals man coverage and opens the wheel route immediately. Watch the slot cornerback's depth on the field side out and go, if he sits low expecting a quick out he will get beat over the top on the vertical break. Post-snap key the deep safety rotation, if the safety flows hard to the field side to help on the vertical stack the boundary wheel should be wide open against a shallow flowing defender. This play struggles against Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 shells with disciplined zone drops, since the underneath zone defender can sit on the wheel route and the deep defenders have help over the top on the seam. Blitz packages that bring extra pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing of both routes, so check for overload blitz looks pre-snap and be ready to check to a quicker hot route or throw to the flat/wheel early before the wheel fully develops.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high look the wheel route from the backfield has a strong chance to win against man coverage once the underneath defender flows away. Use motion or a hot route on the TE crosser to help clear space for the wheel if the defense shows man match principles. Against zone shells, work your eyes to the field side out and go, the out breaks into the seam right behind underneath zone defenders and in front of the deep half safety. This play fits best on second and long or third and medium when defenses are more likely to play zone coverage and give up the intermediate window. Pair Scat with HB Angle or Curl Flat from the same set so the defense has to respect the RB in the passing game before you hit them with the wheel route as a home run shot.
