Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Shock H Option is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Trey Open Offset that uses a pre snap motion to declare coverage before the snap. The backside X runs a vertical seam to stretch the defense deep while the H back runs the option route out of the backfield, breaking away from the box defender for a built in man beater against linebackers or slot corners. On the trips side the outside receiver runs a deep corner post, the slot runs a vertical seam, and the tight end runs a short hitch to give the quarterback a quick underneath outlet. The primary read starts with the H back option route against man coverage, then works to the trips side seam and corner combo if the defense shows zone.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker assigned to the H back during motion, if he trails across the formation it confirms man coverage and the option route will win easily. Check the safety alignment before the snap, a two high shell suggests the corner route on the trips side may be capped, favoring the option route or seam instead. Post snap, identify any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field since he can jump the option route if the quarterback holds it too long. Look for cornerback depth on the backside X vertical, if he plays a soft shell it signals zone coverage and the quarterback should progress to the trips side seam and corner combo. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can be neutralized by the quick option route since it acts as a built in hot route against pressure, so watch for overloaded fronts pre snap.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion on the H back to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation it confirms man coverage and the option route becomes an easy win.
Attack this play on third and medium or third and long since the option route gives the quarterback a built in sit read against blitzes and the vertical routes stress deep zones.
Hot route the tight end into a flat route if you see zone drops sinking underneath, this opens an easy check down away from the trips bracket.
Pair this play with Read Option and HB Draw from the same set to keep defenses honest, since the pre snap motion look mirrors those run concepts and forces linebackers to hesitate.
If the defense rolls a safety over the top of the trips corner route, come back to the H back option route immediately since that leaves the middle of the field open for the backfield read.
