Playbooks

Texans Hook

Shotgun·Bunch·11

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Henry Special

Breakdown

Texans Hook is a bunch formation zone beater built around a hook/curl combo from the tight bunch alignment paired with an underneath flat option. The bunch bodies create natural traffic that disrupts zone drop timing and picks off man defenders trying to press through the cluster, while the backside typically holds a shorter option route as a checkdown against blitz looks. Primary read progression starts with the hook route sitting down in the middle void, then works to the underneath crosser or flat route if the hook is capped, and finishes with the checkdown or backside option against pressure.

Defensive Reads

Against Cover 3, the hook route sits in the natural seam between the underneath zone defenders and the deep third, so look for the middle linebacker's drop depth before deciding to throw the hook or work to the flat. Against Cover 1 or Cover 0 man looks, the bunch alignment creates natural rubs and picks, so watch for a defender getting hung up in traffic which opens an immediate throwing window to the hook or crossing route. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot near the hook zone, if you see a defender break off his assignment early to sit on the middle of the field, abandon the hook read and go directly to the checkdown or backside option. Cover 4 or quarters shells with linebackers staying disciplined in their landmarks can take away the hook window entirely, so be ready to check down quickly rather than force the throw into a sinking zone defender. Watch the edge for green dog or delayed blitz pressure off the backside, since the protection is built for a quick rhythm throw and extended blitzers can collapse the pocket before the hook route sits down.

Usage Tips

Identify the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, if you see two high safeties sitting deep expect the hook route to have soft zone underneath which is your bread and butter read.

Motion a bunch receiver before the snap to see if the defense shifts or if a defender follows across the formation, this confirms man coverage and tells you to expect natural picks off the bunch traffic.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or speed out against Cover 3 to give yourself a fast throw outlet if the hook window is muddy or a linebacker sits directly on the route.

Use this play on second and medium or third and short since the hook sits down quickly and gives the quarterback a rhythm throw before pressure arrives.

Pair this with Bunch Verts or Bunch Sail in your play calling sequence, running Texans Hook first to bait linebackers into sitting shallow, then hitting the verticals or sail concept once the defense overcommits to the underneath zones.