Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
WR Hooks out of Shotgun Tight (11 personnel) is a zone beating passing concept built around hook and curl routes that settle into the soft spots of zone coverage between the linebacker level and the safeties. Both outside receivers work hook routes at intermediate depth while the underneath routes from the slot and tight end create a natural flood to one side, forcing zone defenders to choose who to sink under. The primary read progression starts with the near side hook route, then works to the underneath crosser or flat route as a checkdown if the hook window is closed, and the running back stays in as a safety valve against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify two high safeties with linebackers showing zone drop depth, that shell signals soft Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells you the hook routes will have a clean throwing window before the safety can rotate down. If the corners are pressed up on the receivers with a single high safety, that is man coverage and this concept loses value fast since hook routes are easy sit and hit throws for man defenders. Watch for the Sam or Will linebacker sitting in the hook zone rather than blitzing, a disciplined zone drop into that window is the primary defensive answer to this play. Look for user controlled defenders spying the middle of the field, a lurking Mike linebacker or robber safety can jump the inside hook route and turn it into a pick six. Blitz packages that bring five or six rushers and leave only spot droppers underneath tend to open this concept up wide since fewer defenders can cover more grass, so if you see max protect blitz shells pre snap expect a clean completion on the hook route.
Usage Tips
Attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells since the hook routes settle exactly in the seams that curl to flat defenders vacate when they widen for the flat threat.
Use this on second and medium or third and short situations where the sticks match up with the hook route depth, letting you live off the sticks against zone.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or speed out if you see man coverage pre snap, since the natural hook concept does not have a built in man beater on that side.
Pair this call with Stick or Slot Stick earlier in a series so defenders start jumping the quick hitters, then hit the deeper hook window once linebackers start cheating up.
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow to rob the hook route, immediately climb your progression to the crosser or dump it to the running back in the flat.
