Playbooks
Fork H Traffic
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fork H Traffic is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off Nasty that uses run action to hold the linebackers before working a shallow drag into a corner and dig combo on the backside. The Y and slot receiver cross underneath into a shallow drag and dig while the X streaks vertical then breaks into a corner route, creating a natural high low flood on that side, and the extra blocker to the boundary picks up the edge on the play-action fake while the running back releases on a checkdown drag underneath everything. The primary read progression starts with the shallow drag as the immediate hot route against pressure, then climbs to the dig sitting down in the middle void, and finally to the corner route as the deep shot if a single high safety bites on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap check safety depth and count box defenders, if the defense shows a heavy run front with linebackers creeping up, the play fake will freeze them and open the shallow drag and dig. Versus Cover 3 the dig route is the biggest concern for defenders, so a user linebacker needs to sink and wall off the middle hook zone instead of biting on the run fake. Versus man coverage the shallow drag is nearly impossible to cover with a linebacker, so defenses need to disguise a blitz or squeeze underneath with a nickel defender to disrupt the timing. Watch for the corner route as the home run shot against single high safety looks, a user safety must stay disciplined and not crash on the play-action before confirming pass. Fast, disciplined linebackers who read through the fake and stay square can jump the dig route, which is the biggest defensive win against this concept.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium so the play fake actually has teeth and linebackers respect the run action.
Pre-snap identify single high versus two high safeties, if you see one deep safety the corner route has a great chance to win over the top once he steps up for the run fake.
Against man coverage the shallow drag is your money route, it clears underneath and gives you an easy user throw before the drag defender can trail across traffic.
Against zone coverage look immediately to the dig, it settles into the soft spot behind the linebackers and in front of the deep zone defenders on a Cover 3 shell.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or Outside Zone earlier in a drive so the defense keys run fits, then dial up Fork H Traffic to punish linebackers who crash downhill on the fake.
