Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
Split Close Pro is a Shotgun set that puts 21 personnel on the field: two backs flanking the quarterback in a split backfield, an attached tight end, and two wide receivers aligned with reduced, close splits. Most Shotgun sets spread the field with 11 or 10 personnel. This one stays compact, which lets you run downhill gap schemes and still threaten the defense with play action. Having two backs beside the QB gives you a built-in lead blocker for HB Power O and Cheat FB Power O. It also creates a natural RPO mesh on RPO Zone Peek and RPO Peak Cheat Wrap Go, and a second receiving threat out of the backfield on HB Angle.
The cheat concepts define the set. PA Cheat Wrap Cross, PA Cheat Double Crossers, PA Cheat Wheel Post, and the RPO Peek Cheat Wrap Go family use pre-snap cheat motion and backfield action to shift the defense's run fits. Then the receivers attack the voided areas behind the second level. The tight receiver splits give the WRs room to release inside on crossers or outside on wraps and corners. They also make it easy for the offense to stack or bunch receivers against press, so defenders get less clean jam leverage.
The personnel creates matchup problems. Defenses usually answer 21 with base or heavy nickel. That leaves linebackers covering a back on an angle route and safeties rolled down into the box, where they are exposed on PA Y Cross, Y Curl Post, and Corner Strike. If the defense goes light to cover the pass, the run game hammers them. The HB Option and Gadget tags reward using a true 3DRB who can win on option routes against a linebacker in man coverage.
Strengths
- Elite play-action package: PA Cheat Wrap Cross and PA Cheat Double Crossers pull linebackers downhill off the power fake and hit crossers into vacated middle hook zones against Cover 3 and Cover 4.
- Lead-blocked gap runs: HB Power O and Cheat FB Power O put a fullback or second back as a kick-out or lead blocker, which gashes light boxes and nickel personnel in 4-2-5 fronts.
- Built-in man beaters from the backfield: HB Angle and HB Option isolate a 3DRB on a linebacker, and the angle break against man is nearly unguardable when the LB is aligned inside.
- RPO flexibility: RPO Zone Peek and RPO Peak Cheat Wrap Go let you read a conflict defender post-snap, handing off into a light box or throwing the peek or go when the flat defender crashes.
- Compressed splits create leverage: tight WR alignment helps defeat press and makes Corner Strike and PA Cheat Wheel Post deadly against Cover 2 and Cover 3 when the corner squats on the flat.
Weaknesses
- Only two true wide receivers limits vertical stretch, so Cover 2 Man and Cover 4 Drop can bracket both WRs and force you into checkdowns to the backs.
- Compact alignment invites overload pressure: nickel and dime edge blitzes can beat the play-action fakes before the crossers develop, especially on PA Cheat Double Crossers with longer drops.
- A user-controlled middle linebacker or hook defender sitting in the short middle can undercut PA Y Cross and PA Cheat Wrap Cross, since the crossers pass right through his zone.
- Heavy run tendency tips the hand: opponents who read 21 personnel often load the box with Bear or Under fronts and play spy or sim pressure, which stuffs HB Power O and Inside Zone Split.
- Cheat motion takes time on the play clock and shows the defense your motion tendency, so a sharp opponent can shift coverage or check to a counter pressure after the motion settles.
Usage Tips
Establish Inside Zone Split and HB Power O on early downs to pull the safety into the box, then call PA Cheat Wheel Post or PA Cheat Wrap Cross from the same look to punish the rolled down safety.
On 3rd and short to medium, use HB Angle or HB Option against man coverage. Pre-snap, identify the linebacker covering your back and motion or hot route to create an inside leverage mismatch.
When you see a single high safety, run Y Curl Post or Corner Strike. When you see a two high shell with a squatting corner, hot route the outside WR on a corner or run PA Cheat Wheel Post to high-low the flat defender.
Against heavy blitz looks, keep the second back in to pass protect and hot route the tight end on a quick slant or drag. You can also audible to RPO Zone Peek for a fast pass or run decision.
In the red zone, use Cheat FB Power O and PA Y Cross back to back. The same backfield action forces linebackers to guess between filling the gap and dropping to the TE crossing route.
Plays (15)
Cheat FB Power OPower, Motion, Run Play +1- Corner StrikeCorner, Pass Play, Flat +1
HB AngleAngle, Pass Play, Corner +3
HB OptionOption Route, Pass Play, Corner +2
HB Power OPower, Run Play, Power Run
Inside Zone SplitInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run
PA Cheat Double CrossersPlay Action, Crosser, Motion +4
PA Cheat Wheel PostPlay Action, Post, Wheel +5
PA Cheat Wrap CrossPlay Action, Motion, Pass Play +5
PA Y CrossPlay Action, Y Cross, Pass Play +5
RPO Peak Cheat Wrap GoRPO, Go, Motion +2- RPO Peek Cheat Wrap GoRPO, Go, Motion +5
RPO Zone PeekRPO, Pass Play, Run Play +1- Y CurlCurl, Pass Play, Out +1
Y Curl PostCurl, Post, Pass Play +2
