Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
Wide Trips HB WK is a 10 personnel look out of Shotgun that stacks three receivers to one side with the split closer to the sideline than standard Trips, while the running back aligns weak (opposite the trips surface) rather than directly behind the QB. That weak-side back placement is the whole point: it gives you a built in answer to the trips side overload, because the defense has to choose between rotating coverage strength to the three receiver side or keeping a defender honest on the back's flare and screen game. Compared to tighter Trips sets in Shotgun, the wider alignment stretches the flat defender horizontally and creates more natural throwing windows on out breaking routes, and it forces the apex defender to declare his leverage before the snap.
The isolated single receiver on the weak side is the fastest read in the set. With the trips bunch pulling zone rotation and often the extra defender, that backside X gets a true one on one against whatever corner is left over. Curls X Post and Scissors both attack that side with vertical stems, so if you have a speed mismatch outside you can win the game on one route without touching the trips concept. On the trips side, Levels, Stick, Quick Slants, and Trips Cross give you layered short to intermediate concepts that beat both man and zone depending on how the defense plays the apex.
The screen package is what separates this set from most 10 personnel Shotgun looks. HB Angle Screen, HB Slip Screen, and Slot Mid Screen all punish aggressive blitz calls, and because the back is aligned weak he has a clear release path away from the trips traffic. HB Off Tackle and HB Base keep the run game live out of an empty looking spread alignment, which is critical for keeping nickel and dime defenses from teeing off on obvious pass sets. The 3DRB, Power HB, and SLWR tags mean you want a receiving back and a burner in the slot to get full value here, and the Gadget tag opens up motion and reverse action to shift defensive strength late.
Strengths
- Backside isolation on the single weak receiver is elite against any defense that rotates strength to the trips surface, and Curls X Post plus Scissors both attack it with vertical or double move stems
- Three levels of horizontal stretch on the trips side means Levels and Stick shred Cover 3 and Cover 4 by attacking the apex defender's conflict assignment, and Stick with a hot routed flat gives you a built in zone beater at any depth
- Heavy screen menu (HB Angle Screen, HB Slip Screen, Slot Mid Screen) turns blitz heavy users into free yardage, and the weak side back alignment gives cleaner release lanes than backfield sets with traffic on the release side
- All Go and Deep Flood force single high safeties to pick a side, and with Gadget tagged motions you can shift the trips strength late to break pre snap coverage keys
- Quick Slants and Trips Cross are true man beaters out of the wide split, since the extra horizontal space gives receivers more room to win inside and creates natural rub traffic on crossers
Weaknesses
- 10 personnel with no tight end means no extra pass protector, so A gap nano blitzes and overload pressure off the weak edge hit before your trips concepts develop, especially on Deep Flood and Corner Strike
- The wide split telegraphs the trips surface, letting opponents pre snap rotate to Cover 3 Cloud or a quarters overhang and take away the flat and stick concept without exotic adjustments
- User controlled defenders can sit on the isolated backside receiver, and since that read is your primary answer to strength rotation, a good user erases half the set
- Run game is limited to HB Off Tackle and HB Base with no true power blocking support, so short yardage and goal line situations outside RZ Dusty get stuffed against loaded boxes
- Screens become predictable if overused, and opponents who user the flat defender or play a spot drop zone will blow up HB Angle Screen and Slot Mid Screen for losses
Usage Tips
Read the apex defender pre snap: if he widens with the number three receiver you have Levels or Trips Cross inside, if he squeezes inside go Stick with a hot routed flat or the screen package
Use the isolated weak receiver as your main leverage read on third down. If the corner plays outside shade with no safety help, Curls X Post or the backside vertical on All Go is an easy answer
Hot route the back to a flare or block depending on your protection read. Against nano and A gap looks keep him in, against soft drop back coverage let him leak for free yardage
Attack blitz tendencies with HB Slip Screen and Slot Mid Screen early in the game to slow down aggressive users, then go back to Corner Strike and Scissors once they start playing coverage
Use Gadget motions to flip the trips strength after the defense declares. Motion the inside slot across to create a 2x2 look and force manual coverage rotation, which usually opens the seam on Air Raid Under or Deep Flood
