Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RNS 590 Texas out of Shotgun Spread Slots Close is a Texas concept pass play built to attack the seam and boundary with a five man route distribution. The backside slot runs a deep corner route while the outside receiver on that side runs a shallow drag underneath, creating a natural high low read. On the strongside, the outside receiver runs a vertical seam that clears out, the slot underneath him runs a corner route breaking to the pylon, and the running back releases into a wide flat route for a quick checkdown. This is a man beater built around the strongside corner and seam combo working a two man high low stretch on the cornerback, with the flat route as a built in outlet against blitzes or when the deep routes are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment since a single high safety must choose between the deep seam and the corner route, leaving one open against this concept. Watch cornerback depth on the strongside receiver, if he is playing off coverage the seam route will win quickly against a soft cushion. Post snap, key any user controlled defender dropping into the flat since that take away forces the corner and seam matchup which favors the offense against man coverage. This concept struggles against a hard cover 2 shell where the corner defender sinks under the corner route and the safety rotates over the seam, so expect a contested throw or a check down. Look for linebackers spying or blitzing off the edge since the running back flat route is uncovered against most zone blitz packages, making it the safety valve against pressure.
Usage Tips
Read the strongside corner and seam combo first since that two man stretch is the primary attack point of this concept against man coverage.
If the cornerback bails deep at the snap, look to the shallow drag on the backside for a quick, safe completion before the corner route window closes.
Use the running back flat route as your check down against blue dog blitzes or when the safety rotates over the top to help on the deep corner.
Call this on second and medium or third and short to medium since the flat and drag give you easy yardage while the corner and seam are chunk play shots.
Pair this with RNS 590 Nebraska or RNS 590 Z Replace in your play calling sequence so the defense sees the same backfield action and route stems but has to respect different breaking points, keeping linebackers and safeties honest.
