Playbooks
At a Glance
In 1 playbook
Overview
Wide Doubles Y Off WK is a Shotgun 11 personnel set that stretches the defense horizontally with a 2x2 receiver distribution and wide splits, while the tight end aligns off the line of scrimmage as a wing on the weak side. That off alignment is what separates it from standard Doubles or Trey looks. The Y is not tied to the edge as a traditional in-line blocker, so he functions as a movable piece: a kick-out or wrap blocker on Power G and counter schemes, a sift blocker on RPOs, and a leak or flat release on play-action. The wide splits pull the overhang defenders and flat defenders toward the sideline, which thins the box and gives the run game cleaner numbers.
The play list shows the design intent. This set is built around gap scheme runs (Power G, Counter, Buck Sweep) paired with RPO tags and play-action shots that look identical at the snap. RPO Alert Counter, RPO Alert Power Hitches, and RPO Walk Alert Power let you punish a defense that fills the box with a quick perimeter throw, while PA Counter Slide, PA Counter Post Curls, and PA Walk Glance N Go use the same backfield action to hold linebackers and open the intermediate and deep windows. The Gadget and SLWR tags point to the slot receiver as a featured piece, both as a quick-game target and as a matchup weapon on alert routes.
From a matchup standpoint, the 2x2 look forces the defense to declare its coverage early. With two receivers on each side and wide splits, defenses often play split-field or match coverage, leaving the slot on a linebacker or safety. The off Y adds a sixth gap for the run game and creates a mismatch in the flat when he releases after a fake, which is exactly how the Slide and Walk concepts exploit aggressive run fits.
Strengths
- Every run concept carries a matching RPO or play-action tag, so the same Power G and Counter backfield action produces run, quick throw, and deep shot looks that are very hard to key on film or in user reads.
- The off Y creates an extra gap and a kick-out blocker on Power G and Counter, giving you favorable blocking numbers against even fronts and light boxes created by the wide splits.
- RPO Alert Power Hitches and RPO Alert Counter act as automatic box-count beaters: if the defense brings an extra hat into the box, the hitches or alert post punish soft zone corners and Cover 3 cloud rotations instantly.
- PA Counter Slide and PA Walk Choice Levels are excellent zone beaters, as the counter fake pulls hook defenders downhill and opens the level window and the Y in the flat against Cover 3 and Cover 4.
- PA Walk Glance N Go is a legit man beater and Cover 1 killer, since the glance sells the quick slant to the underneath defender before the go route runs away from a single-high safety who bit on the run action.
Weaknesses
- Play-action and RPO shots require time, and with only five linemen plus a back who is carrying out fakes, a well-timed nano blitz off the edge or a Mug A-gap pressure can get home before the deep routes develop.
- A user-controlled middle linebacker or robber safety sitting in the throwing lane on RPO alert posts and glance routes can take away the primary read and create easy interceptions if you force the throw.
- The set is run-heavy by design, so opponents who spot the off Y tendency can load the weak side, slant the line toward the TE, and blow up Counter and Power G before the pullers arrive.
- Cover 2 Man and two-high man coverage with a spy reduces the effectiveness of the play-action shots, as deep safeties do not bite on run action and the man defenders stay attached to routes.
- The limited passing menu leaves you short on a true dropback, full-field concept, so on third and long you may need to leave the set for a more traditional pass formation.
Usage Tips
Count the box pre-snap: with six or fewer defenders, hand it off on Power G or Counter, and with seven or more, run the RPO Alert tags and take the quick throw to the hitches or alert post.
Use this set on first and second down in the 1 to 7 yard range, where the run threat is real and the defense is most likely to crash on play-action fakes like PA Counter Post Curls and PA Walk Choice Levels.
When you see single-high man with an aggressive safety, check to PA Walk Glance N Go and consider hot routing the opposite slot to a drag to occupy the underneath defender.
Against heavy blitz looks, slide protection toward the pressure and hot route the Y to a block on play-action calls, or audible straight to RPO Alert Power Hitches to get the ball out on rhythm.
Establish Counter and Buck Sweep early to build tendency, then call the matching PA Counter and RPO Alert Counter plays later in the drive when the linebackers start flowing hard to the pullers.
