Playbooks
Doubles Flex WK Pats
At a Glance
Overview
Doubles Flex WK Pats is the Patriots branded version of Shotgun Doubles Flex, and the "WK" (weak) tag is what separates it from the standard Doubles look. The back aligns to the weak side of the formation rather than mirroring the strength, which flips your protection math and lets you run HB Counter and Mtn HB Sweep away from the pressure side without motioning anyone. You get two receivers split wide, a flexed slot to each side, and a back offset in the gun, so the alignment reads like 10 personnel spread even though the formation still supports downhill gap runs off the RPO Power Alert.
The flex splits are the key mechanical difference from tighter Doubles sets. Both inside receivers are removed from the core, which forces the defense to either widen nickel and dime defenders into open grass or commit safeties to leverage responsibilities they do not want. That spacing is why Mtn Mesh Y Corner and Patriots Spot hit so cleanly: the underneath rubs happen in space instead of in traffic, and the corner route works against a safety who has already been displaced by the flexed alignment. Against man coverage, you can isolate whichever slot is matched with a linebacker or a third safety and attack that leverage immediately.
Concept variety is what makes this set a full package rather than a situational look. Patriots Drag, Patriots Drive, and Slot Cross give you three different flood and crosser structures off the same alignment. Mtn PA Y Middle Read adds a play action shot with a built in high low over the middle. Fl Screen and Mtn HB Cross Screen turn aggressive edge pressure into free yardage. Doubles Flex WK Swap gives you a stems based answer when your opponent starts pattern matching the standard route distribution.
Strengths
- Mtn Mesh Y Corner is a true dual purpose concept: the mesh rub beats man coverage while the Y corner attacks the void behind flat defenders in Cover 3 and Cover 4, so you rarely have to guess right pre snap.
- Flexed slot splits stress nickel and dime alignment, creating clean one on one isolation looks against linebackers and third safeties that you can attack with a slot hot route streak or option.
- Patriots Spot and Patriots Drive give you high percentage zone beaters with built in curl flat and dig triangles, which is exactly what you want on third and medium against soft zone shells.
- RPO Power Alert and HB Counter keep the run threat alive from a spread alignment, so light boxes get punished and heavy boxes give you clean throwing windows outside.
- Fl Screen and Mtn HB Cross Screen serve as free answers to edge pressure and blitz heavy users, letting you flip the field when someone dials up a nano off the slot side.
Weaknesses
- The back is offset weak, so A gap and strong side interior pressure can get home before your protection slides, especially on the deeper developing crossers in Slot Cross and Patriots Drive.
- Wide flex splits mean your inside releases take longer to develop, which gives user controlled defenders extra time to jump the mesh and drag layers.
- Only one back in protection means five man pressures with a delayed linebacker force you into throwaways or checkdowns if your first read is covered.
- Mtn PA Y Middle Read is slow to develop and will get blown up by any interior blitz, so it is a situational call rather than a base concept.
- Heavy screen usage becomes a tendency quickly, and opponents who key Fl Screen with a user defender in the flat will turn it into a loss of yardage.
Usage Tips
Read the nickel alignment first. If the defender over your flexed slot is inside leverage with no safety help, hot route a slot streak or option and take the isolated matchup immediately.
Use RPO Power Alert against light boxes and single high shells to keep the safety honest, then come back with Mtn Slot Post once the defense starts crowding the run fit.
On third and medium, Patriots Spot and Patriots Drive are your money calls against zone. Manually control the flat or curl defender side receiver in your head pre snap so you know your progression before the snap.
Against blitz heavy users, check to Fl Screen or Mtn HB Cross Screen and let the aggression work against them. Pair it with a block hot route on the near slot to seal the edge.
Keep the run and pass distribution balanced with HB Counter and Mtn HB Sweep. Running weak away from the offset back forces defenses to slow play the edge, which opens Mtn Mesh Y Corner later in the game.
