Playbooks
Shovel Option
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Shovel Option is a designed QB run/RPO hybrid out of Shotgun Split Slot Open with 20 personnel. At the snap the QB works a shovel pass option to the HB who releases flat, while the slot receiver runs an underneath drag/swing track behind him, creating a true speed option look with the offensive line pulling to seal the edge. This is primarily a run beater against overpursuing fronts and aggressive edge defenders, with the QB reading the first unblocked defender off the edge (contain man) to decide shovel to the HB or keep it himself.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a defensive end or outside linebacker crashing hard down the line pre-snap, since that tells the QB to pull it and bounce outside immediately. If the defense shows man coverage with the slot corner following the HB motion or alignment, expect the flat defender to be occupied and the shovel lane to stay open. Zone shells with a hard scrape exchange linebacker are the main counter, since a disciplined LB who stays home on the shovel man kills this play. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the QB or sitting in the mesh point area, as this indicates the CPU or opponent is anticipating the option and will blow up both options. Safety rotation to the play side pre-snap signals extra run support, which means the QB should key the alley defender rather than the initial contain man for the pitch decision.
Usage Tips
Attack defenses that show overload blitzes or crashing ends since the unblocked edge defender is your option key and gets erased either way.
Use this on early downs or short yardage when defenses are selling out against inside zone or gap runs, since the misdirection punishes fast flow to the ball.
Pre-snap, check the box count and if the defense stacks the box with 7 or more, this is a green light play since the option nature negates an extra blocker.
Pair this with Power Read and HB Gut from the same set so defenses cannot key on the mesh point and have to respect both the shovel and the QB keeper equally.
Practice the option pitch timing in practice mode since a late or early shovel read gets blown up by scraping linebackers.
