Playbooks
At a Glance
In 19 playbooks
Overview
Doubles HB Wk is the balanced 2x2 shotgun alignment with the back offset to the weak side, and that single detail changes how defenses have to fit the run and where your protection help lives. Unlike Doubles HB Str, the back sits away from the tight end, which means your inside zone and Pin Pull Sweep looks attack a lighter box side while the TE remains attached to the strong side as an extra gap defender problem. The 11 personnel grouping puts your best slot receiver against nickel and forces defenses into base nickel shells, so you are consistently getting a WR3 versus a slot corner or a linebacker in dime-light matchups instead of stacking a second tight end that invites base personnel.
The play art in this set is unusually deep for a single alignment, which is what makes it a franchise staple. You get a full RPO tree (RPO Zone Read Bubble, RPO Peek Slant, RPO Power Peek, RPO Zone Alert Bubble, RPO Read Bubble) that lets you read the box count pre-snap and take the free bubble or slant without ever committing to a real read. Stack that on top of true dropback concepts (Y Cross, X Dagger, Portland Mesh, Four Verticals, Sail Dig, Double Post) and you can run an entire game plan from one look without tipping run or pass tendency.
Because the back is weak, the protection slide and your screen game skew that direction as well. HB Slip Screen, HB Cross Screen, and PA Jailbreak Screen all key off aggressive edge pressure, and the Boomerang and Mtn tags give you misdirection off the same backfield alignment. The 3DRB and SLWR tags mean this set is built for pass-catching backs and slot-heavy receiver corps, so isolating a receiving back on a linebacker out of the backfield is the fastest matchup win available here.
Strengths
- The RPO package (RPO Zone Read Bubble, RPO Peek Slant, RPO Power Peek) turns pre-snap box counting into free yards against single high looks, and the bubble is an instant checkdown when the nickel is aligned inside the slot.
- Portland Mesh and Double Slants are premium man beaters, with the mesh rub creating natural traffic against Cover 1 and Cover 0 press looks, and Slants hitting before most nano blitzes can reach the QB.
- Y Cross, X Dagger, and Sail Dig give you layered zone beaters that stress Cover 3 and Cover 4 at the intermediate level, with the dig sitting in the hole behind the vertical clearout.
- The 2x2 balance means every route combo mirrors, so you can hot route one side into a smash or curl look and keep the backside concept intact against whatever rotation you read post-snap.
- Weak side back alignment lets you motion the HB out for an easy linebacker mismatch, and HB Slip Screen punishes users who commit their edge rushers upfield.
Weaknesses
- The 2x2 look with a single back is thin in protection against overload A gap pressure, and Four Verticals or Double Post will get you hit before the deep routes develop unless you slide protection or block the back.
- Users sitting on the slot receiver kill most of the RPO bubble game, since a good user defender reads the throw and jumps the flat for a pick six.
- The set is heavily tendency driven, and opponents who track your RPO usage will simply crash the box and dare you to throw the alert without giving up the run lane.
- Slot Wheel, Post Wheels, and Corner Strike all need real time to develop, so they are dead plays against a well timed nano blitz or a heat look from dime.
- Run plays like Inside Zone and 0 1 Trap struggle against loaded fronts because 11 personnel does not give you the extra gap blocker a two tight end set provides.
Usage Tips
Count the box pre-snap on every RPO. Six or fewer defenders means hand it off on RPO Zone Read Bubble, seven or more means take the bubble or the alert slant immediately.
Against man press coverage, live on Portland Mesh and Double Slants, and hot route the backside receiver to a slant or drag to give yourself a free release option if the mesh gets jammed.
On third and medium, run Curl Combo or Sail Dig and read the flat defender first. If the nickel widens with the out route, the dig or curl opens behind him every time.
Use HB Slip Screen and HB Cross Screen as your pressure answers after your opponent has shown two or more edge blitzes, and block the tight end if they keep bringing five.
Set up PA Posts, PA Cross, and PA Read only after you have established Inside Zone or Pin Pull Sweep from the same look, since the play action hold depends on the linebackers respecting your run tendency.
