Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Shock HB Option is a trips based pass concept out of Shotgun with a running back option route on the backside. The trips side stacks a corner route from the outside receiver up top with an out and up combo from the two inside slots, stretching the defense vertically and horizontally, while the backside X runs a whip style option route that motions inside then breaks outward against the flow, and the HB releases into a checkrelease option out of the backfield. This is a man beater against man coverage thanks to the option route creating natural separation, and it also holds up against zone thanks to the deep corner clearing space for the underneath option route to settle into. Primary read starts with the backside option route working against the flow of the defense, then progresses to the intermediate out and up combo on the trips side if the backer or nickel overplays the option route.
Defensive Reads
Watch the underneath defender assigned to the X receiver's option route, if he sits flat footed at the snap he is likely in man and will get beat by the option break. Key the flow of the linebackers, if they crash hard playside on the option motion action, that opens up cutback space and confirms zone rotation away from the play. Identify single high versus two high safety shells presnap, single high leaves the deep corner route on trips in a soft spot against most zone coverages. If you see a nickel blitz off the edge on the backside, get the ball out fast to the option route since the protection has fewer bodies to hold up. Watch for a lurking linebacker sitting in the shallow zone behind the option route, this is the biggest defensive answer since it can jump the underneath break and bait a turnover.
Usage Tips
Presnap, check if the defense shows man coverage across from your X receiver running the option route, since that route reads leverage and breaks away from the defender for a quick answer.
Use motion or a hard count to see if the backside defender jumps or bites, which tells you whether man or zone principles are in play before the snap.
Hot route the corner route on trips to a deep out if you see a two high shell rotating late, this keeps the sideline throw available without forcing it into double coverage.
Pair this play with Mtn Slot Cross or Mtn Slot Curls in the same set to keep the defense guessing between option based reads and traditional route combos out of the same trips look.
Best used on early downs or third and short since the option route gives a high floor completion, but it can also work on third and medium if the defense sits back in soft zone.
