Playbooks
Shock is a motion-based passing concept out of the Shotgun Wide 5wr set designed to attack man coverage with a mix of quick separation routes and a deep shot. The motion at the snap forces the defense to declare man or zone early, giving the quarterback a clean pre-snap indicator before the ball is even snapped. The primary read progression starts with the motion receiver working into the shallow crossing route, then works to the intermediate breaking route, and finally to the deep vertical threat on the backside if the safety bites on the shorter routes.
Watch the linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the motion receiver, if he follows the motion across the formation that confirms man coverage and opens up the crossing route for an easy completion. Check the safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety indicates man or Cover 3 while two deep safeties suggest Cover 2 or Cover 4 that can bracket the deep route. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell for this play since the crosser and deep route both have room to separate. Cover 2 shells with hard corners at the line can be tough for the deep route since the corner has an outside jump on his man before releasing to help over the top. If you see a linebacker walked up near the line post motion, be alert for a disguised blitz, get the ball out quickly on the shallow route to avoid a sack from an unblocked rusher.
Use the pre-snap motion to bait linebackers and safeties into showing their coverage responsibility before the snap. If the defender assigned to the motion man follows across the formation, you have confirmed man coverage and can attack with the crosser or work to the deep shot. Hot route the backside outside receiver into a quick out or slant if you see a corner playing off man technique to create an instant answer against soft coverage. This play pairs well with Slot Screen and RPO Bubble QB Draw in the same set because both punish defenses that key on motion by crashing down, opening up the intermediate and deep routes in Shock. Best used on second or third and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, since the motion will pull a defender out of position and open passing lanes underneath. Avoid calling this against aggressive nano blitz packages unless you have a hot route ready to check the ball down quickly to the motion receiver.