Playbooks

HB Corner

Shotgun·U Off Trips Wk·12

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetU Off Trips Wk

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

HB Corner out of Shotgun U Off Trips Wk sends the running back on a corner route out of the backfield while the trips side runs a route combo designed to occupy zone defenders or isolate man coverage on the flank. The 12 personnel grouping keeps two tight ends in to help in protection or work underneath, giving the quarterback a simple half field progression. This is primarily a man beater since the HB corner route attacks the void created when a linebacker or safety has to widen and turn his hips to cover the back out of the backfield, though it also has zone beating value against defenses that leave a soft spot in the flat or deep quarter.

Defensive Reads

Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like a linebacker walked out over the backfield, since that alignment is the biggest green light for the HB corner route. Identify two high safety shells before the snap because a defense rotating to Cover 2 or Cover 4 will have a corner or safety sitting in the flat to jump the HB route. Watch for a user controlled linebacker spying the backfield after the snap, since a heads up defender can undercut the corner route if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Look for Cover 3 sink where the flat defender widens late, this can bait the corner route into a defender who arrives just in time to contest the catch. Beware of blitz packages that bring an extra rusher off the edge, since the two tight end protection needs to hold up long enough for the HB route to clear the underneath traffic.

Usage Tips

Read the trips side first to see if the defense rotates a safety over the top, then work back to the HB corner route if the backfield defender bites on the underneath routes.

Use this play against man coverage looks where a linebacker or slower defender is responsible for covering the HB out of the backfield, since the corner route creates natural separation on the break.

Hot route a slot receiver into a quick out or speed out if you see Cover 3 sink underneath, giving the quarterback a faster answer than waiting on the HB corner to develop.

Pair this call with Same Side Zone or HB Power earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and linebackers stay tighter to the box, opening the corner route for the HB.

Save HB Corner for second and medium or third and short situations since the route takes a beat to develop and you want a manageable conversion if the primary read is not there.