Pitt Choice Zig lines up out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk with a trips side to the right and a lone receiver to the left. The backside X runs a vertical option route with a corner break, the HB releases out of the backfield on a swing/flare route to the flat, and the trips side features a seam runner up the middle on a corner post, a zig route sitting down over the middle at intermediate depth, and the outside receiver running a shallow drag to the boundary. This is a man beater built around the option route and the zig crossing route, so the primary read starts with the seam/option route against single coverage, then works down to the zig sitting in the middle of the field, with the HB flare as the checkdown against pressure.

Defensive Reads

Watch cornerback alignment on the option route side before the snap, tight man coverage with no safety help is exactly what this route is designed to exploit. Post snap, key the flow of the middle linebacker and any nickel defender dropping into the shallow zone, since the zig route wants to settle into that vacated space. If the defense shows a heavy blitz look with defenders crashing the edges, get to the HB flare quickly before the pocket breaks down. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing zone, a heads up player sitting on the zig route can jump the throw and bait a turnover. Two high safety shells with off man on the outside corner take away the option route's biggest advantage, forcing the progression down to the zig or the HB checkdown.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the option route on the left needs one on one coverage to be effective against a cornerback without safety help over the top.

If you see man coverage across the board, work the option route first since it breaks based on the defender leverage and is nearly unguardable against a trailing corner.

Against zone coverage, look to the zig route crossing the middle of the field, since it settles in the soft spot between linebacker levels and safety zones.

Use the HB flare route as your answer versus the blitz, it releases quickly to the flat and gives you a built in checkdown when the pocket collapses.

Pair this play with Pitt Z Streak or Pitt X Drag from the same set to keep the defense guessing on which route combo is coming off nearly identical trips alignment.

Run this on early downs or third and medium, the option route and zig combo give you access to both quick and intermediate answers depending on coverage.

Pitt Choice Zig

Quick Reference

In 2 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk