Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
Doubles Off Close Wk is the compressed, run-first variation of Shotgun Doubles in 11 personnel. Instead of spreading two-by-two with the slots detached, this set closes the inside receivers down tight to the tackles and offsets the back weak, which means you get a tight end and a slot receiver working from reduced splits while both outside receivers hold the numbers. That alignment gives you natural rub geometry on mesh and pivot concepts, easier crack and arc blocks on the perimeter run game, and a run/pass conflict on the second level defender who has to fit the box without losing the bubble.
The play list tells you exactly what this set is built for: a heavy RPO menu (Mtn RPO Peek Slant, Mtn RPO Alert Bubble, Mtn RPO Read Bubble, RPO Read Bubble, RPO Zone Read Bubble) layered on top of real gap and zone runs (Mtn Buck Sweep, Inside Zone, Counter Y, Y Lead Read Option). Because everything releases from the same compressed picture, the defense cannot tell run from pass until after the snap, and single high shells get punished by the alert bubble while two high shells get gashed inside.
The passing tree off this look leans on play action and deep crossers. Mtn PA Y Cross, PA Y Cross, X Cross, X Dagger, Double Post, and Mtn Mesh Rail all work off the same run action, which lets you attack the middle of the field after you have forced the safeties to trigger downhill. The 3DRB, Power HB, and SLWR tags mean you can put a receiving back weak against a linebacker on Snag HB Wheel and HB Slip Screen, or keep a bruiser in for Counter Y and Buck Sweep without ever changing the alignment your opponent sees.
Strengths
- Elite RPO menu with three different bubble variants plus a peek slant, so you can read the flat defender or the apex linebacker post snap and take whatever the coverage gives without ever guessing pre snap.
- Compressed splits create free rub and traffic on Mtn Mesh Rail and Pivot In Seams, which turns man coverage and press man into a blown assignment fest for any defender trailing across the formation.
- Play action crossers (Mtn PA Y Cross, PA Y Cross, X Cross, X Dagger) hit hard because the run action from a tight formation pulls linebackers forward and opens the deep intermediate window over the middle against Cover 3 and Cover 1.
- Reduced splits and the offset back make Mtn Buck Sweep, Counter Y, and Y Lead Read Option lethal on the perimeter since your tight end and slot are already in blocking position instead of having to work back inside.
- The 3DRB tag lets you motion the back out or hot route him on a wheel from Snag HB Wheel, isolating a linebacker in space on an island, which is one of the cleanest man beaters available in the set.
Weaknesses
- Compressed splits shrink the field horizontally, so overload pressure from the closed side gets home fast and your outside receivers have to travel further to give the quarterback an escape throw.
- Bubble RPO reads become unreliable against a user controlled defender sitting on the flat, since the read defender AI can be manipulated by a human who crashes late and takes both options.
- Heavy RPO and play action usage makes this set a sitting duck for Cover 2 Invert and robber looks where the middle hook defender drops instead of triggering on the run key.
- The tight alignment tips run tendency to experienced opponents, who will start committing an extra box defender and playing single high once they see Doubles Off Close Wk on the play call screen.
- Limited vertical shot plays outside of Double Post means you can stall against soft Cover 4 quarters teams that simply sit back and take away the crossers.
Usage Tips
Read the apex defender pre snap on any of the bubble RPOs: if he is aligned inside the tackle box, throw the bubble immediately, and if he widens to split the difference, hand it off on Inside Zone or Mtn Buck Sweep.
Against single high, live in Mtn RPO Alert Bubble and Mtn PA Y Cross, since the alert gives you a free perimeter throw and the play action crosser attacks the vacated middle hook zone once the safety rotates.
Use Mtn Mesh Rail and Pivot In Seams as your primary man beaters on third and medium, and hot route the tight end to a drag if you see press coverage across the board.
Set up HB Slip Screen and Mtn TE Mid Screen after you have run six or seven RPOs, because aggressive defensive line users will already be pinning their ears back and running themselves out of the play.
Save Counter Y and Y Lead Read Option for short yardage and goal line situations where the compressed formation gives you an extra gap without having to sub into heavy personnel and tip your hand.
Plays (22)
Counter YCounter, Run Play, Power Run
Double PostPost, Double Posts, Pass Play +2
HB Slip ScreenScreen Pass, Hb Screen, Pass Play
Inside ZoneInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run- Mtn Buck Sweep
Mtn Mesh RailMesh, Motion, Pass Play +1- Mtn PA Wave
- Mtn PA Y Cross
- Mtn RPO Alert Bubble
- Mtn RPO Peek Slant
- Mtn RPO Read Bubble
Mtn Stick X ReplaceStick, Stick Concept, Motion +1
Mtn TE Mid ScreenScreen Pass, Te Screen, Motion +1
PA Y CrossPlay Action, Y Cross, Pass Play +1
Pivot In SeamsPivot, Pass Play, Seam
RPO Read BubbleRPO, Pass Play, Run Play- RPO Zone Read BubbleRPO, Pass Play, Run Play
- Snag HB Wheel
- Sprint Flood
- X Cross
X DaggerDagger, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +1
Y Lead Read OptionRead Option, Run Play
