Playbooks
Inside Hi Lo
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Inside Hi Lo is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Tight Flex Wk with 11 personnel that stacks a Levels concept on the play side while flooding the underneath zone away from it. The play-action fake sells the run, then the outside receiver runs a vertical Go to clear space, the tight end and slot work a Dig and In at different depths to create the Hi Lo read against zone defenders, and the backside receiver runs a deep crossing route while the running back releases to the flat for a checkdown flood read. Primary progression starts with the Hi Lo combo (In then Dig) working from high to low, then works to the Go route against man coverage before checking down to the flat.
Defensive Reads
Read the middle of the field pre-snap, single high safety alignment signals Cover 3 which is a primary weakness for the Hi Lo combo sitting behind the linebackers. Watch for the user controlled defender dropping into the passing lane between the In and Dig routes, since a smart user will sit in that window to jump the Hi Lo read. Two high safety shells (Cover 4 or Cover 2) can still be attacked but the Go route needs to win vertically to hold the deep defender before the underneath routes open. Key the linebacker reaction to the play-action fake, if they bite hard on the run fake the Hi Lo window opens immediately for an easy completion. Watch for blitz packages sending extra rushers, since the flat route and quick game elements of this concept are the answer against pressure but the quarterback must get the ball out fast.
Usage Tips
Look for the safety depth before the snap to confirm if you are getting single high or two high, since this play is tagged as a Cover 3 and Cover 4 beater it thrives when defenses roll to those shells.
Use play action on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to hold the linebackers and open up the Hi Lo window between the underneath zone defender and the deep zone defender.
Hot route the flat route to a deeper option if you see the defense sitting on the flood concept, especially against teams that user the underneath zone defender aggressively.
Pair this play with Mtn Y Cross or Mtn Stick Z Post in your call sheet sequencing so defenses cannot key on the play-action fake or the crossing route tendencies.
If the corner presses the Go route receiver, work the Hi Lo combo immediately since the vertical route becomes a decoy and man coverage on the inside routes is where this concept generates easy completions.
