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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
HB Option out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel shows a four-man route concept with the running back releasing out of the backfield on an option route that breaks outward to the flat, giving the QB a built-in checkdown against underneath coverage. On the outside, two receivers run vertical seams up the field while the far outside receiver on each side runs a deep out to the sideline, stretching the field horizontally and vertically at the same time. This is a man beater and zone beater combo play, with the primary read starting on the seam routes for a big play shot before working down to the HB option route as the built-in outlet against blitz or tight man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety depth pre-snap, since two deep safeties sitting at 10 yards or deeper signal a Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell that can squeeze the seam windows. A single high safety cheating to one side tips zone rotation and opens the seam on the opposite hash. Key the outside cornerbacks at the snap: if they bail into a deep zone drop instead of pressing, the deep out routes to the flats have room to sit down in the void underneath. User the middle linebacker or nickel defender to jump the HB option route, since that is the built-in checkdown the offense wants when the seams are covered. Blitz packages that send extra pressure off the edge can be neutralized if the HB option route is left uncovered, so spy the running back or drop a defender into the shallow zone to take that away.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap for single high versus two high safeties, since the seam routes attack the void between the numbers and the safety in one high shells. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep zone drops, target the seam runners before the safety can rotate over the top. Against man coverage or a blitz look, get the ball out quickly to the HB option route since it gives the running back a natural pick against a blitzing linebacker. Use this play on early downs to establish the seam shots, then sequence into Curl Flats or Quick Slants later in the drive once the defense starts sitting on the deep routes. Pair this with HB Cross Screen or WR Screen from the same personnel to keep defenders honest against the seam and out combo.
