Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
All Hitch is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Empty Base Flex that spreads the defense horizontally with hitch routes stacked outside and a shallow drag crossing the middle from the slot receiver. Both outside receivers on each side sit down at roughly five to six yards on hitches while the inner slot receiver on the right side breaks his route back toward the ball to settle in the middle void, giving the quarterback a built in answer against soft coverage and underneath zone drops. This is a quick game man and zone beater with no blocking assignment since it is an empty formation. Primary read progression starts with the drag or settled route in the middle for a rhythm throw, then works outside to either hitch based on which corner is playing off or squatting.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep at eight plus yards you are likely seeing zone coverage and the hitches will have room to sit down for easy completions. Watch cornerback alignment, corners playing tight man coverage with inside shade can jump the hitch break so be ready to hot route to a fade or double move if you see this look. Post-snap, identify any user controlled defender flowing toward the middle settle route since a spying linebacker or robber safety can jump that throw and create a turnover. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge are the main threat here since there is no protection help in empty, get the ball out on time to the middle read to negate pressure. Cover 2 shells with corners sitting on hitches at the numbers can bait a quarterback into a bad throw, in that case peek to the far side hitch away from the flat defender's leverage.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick shift to identify if the corners are playing off man or soft zone before the snap since hitches need cushion to work.
Throw with anticipation on the hitch routes right as the receiver plants his foot to break, do not wait for full separation or user defenders will close the window.
Combine All Hitch with Verticals or Y Corner from this same set to keep defenses honest, since the hitch look sets up double moves and comebacks off the same route stems later in a drive.
This play shines on third and short to third and medium since every route breaks underneath sticks distance and gives the quarterback multiple checkdown options.
Against zone coverage prioritize the middle settling route since it naturally finds soft spots between linebacker drops and safety rotation.
