Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
H Choice out of Shotgun Split Y Off is a five man route concept built around an option route from the H back out of the backfield, giving the quarterback a built in answer versus both man and zone coverage. The outside X runs a deep comeback while the Y off the line clears vertically, the slot runs a deep in that crosses the field, and the second back releases into a flat to wheel route to stretch the boundary. With the H choice route sitting down against zone or working away from man defenders in the underneath area, the primary read starts with the H back option route, then works to the deep in crossing route, and finishes on the comeback and wheel combo if the coverage rotates away from the middle of the field.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenses struggle to stay attached to the H back's option route since the break point is defender dependent, so watch for a defender trailing rather than mirroring Cover 3 and other single high shells leave the flat and short middle vulnerable to the H choice and wheel combo, key the free safety's initial depth and rotation Cover 2 zone shells with linebackers sitting on shallow crossers can jump the H back's route, so check linebacker depth and spacing before committing to that read Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge open up the option route as a quick outlet, so identify pre-snap pressure looks by counting defenders in the box User controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone are the biggest threat to this concept, scan for a defender sitting in the middle of the field ready to jump the option route or crossing route
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing two high or single high safety, since the H choice route reading zone versus man dictates your first look
Against man coverage let the H back's option route break away from the defender's leverage, this is your rhythm throw on quick timing
Against zone coverage look for the H back to settle into the open window underneath the deep in route from the slot
Use this play on early downs to stay ahead of the chains, then pair it with Backs Cross or Y Curl to keep linebackers guessing on route concepts that attack similar areas
Motion or shift the second back before the snap to diagnose man coverage if the defender follows across the formation
