Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Orbit Mesh Spot out of Shotgun Deuce Close sends the running back in orbit motion across the formation before releasing into a wheel up the sideline, creating a natural pick element against man coverage. The spot concept underneath features a corner route, a hitch to the flat, and a mesh crossing pattern working underneath the deep out, giving the quarterback layered options at three levels. This is primarily a man beater built off the orbit motion and mesh traffic, though the spot concept combined with the corner route also stresses cover 3 rotation, and the primary read progression starts with the flat defender on the spot/hitch, works to the mesh crosser underneath, and progresses to the wheeling running back or corner route if the defense over commits inside.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check if the linebacker assigned to the running back widens out with the orbit motion, that is your first sign of man coverage and the wheel route will have a soft matchup. Post snap, key the flat defender on the spot hitch route, if he sits on the mesh crossers you can look immediately to the flat or wheel for an easy completion. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow flat or lurking the mesh area, since that is the most common way this play gets shut down in man coverage by jumping the crosser. Against zone shells, identify whether the corner is playing off or has outside leverage, since the corner route and wheel combo attack cover 3 rotation hard when the deep defenders bite on the underneath mesh action. If the defense brings a blitz with man coverage behind it, the mesh concept naturally creates traffic and picks, so trust the quick underneath read rather than holding for the wheel against pressure.
Usage Tips
Motion the running back pre-snap and watch how the defense reacts, if a linebacker or safety follows him across the formation that confirms man coverage and the wheel route becomes your home run shot down the sideline.
Use this on early downs or third and short to medium since the mesh and spot combo gives you quick underneath answers if the wheel is not open.
Hot route the corner route into a deeper comeback against teams sitting hard on the sideline shell if you are seeing a lot of cover 3 or cover 4 shells in the film.
Pair this call with Mtn Return HB Toss or HB Orbit Spacing from the same set so the defense has to respect the orbit motion every snap, keeping linebackers honest and opening up the wheel route later in the series.
If the defense shows blitz look presnap, get through your mesh read fast since the crossing routes naturally beat man blitz pressure by creating natural rub picks underneath.
