Playbooks
HB Angle out of Shotgun Wing Close Offset is a man beater built around the running back releasing out of the backfield on an angle route to attack space vacated by linebackers in man coverage. The offensive line and tight end handle a standard protection scheme up front, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to work through his progression while the underneath routes clear out space for the checkdown. The primary read progression starts with any vertical shot off the outside receiver if the coverage shows single high, then works down to the HB angle route as the built in answer against linebacker matchups and blitz pressure.
Identify whether a linebacker or a safety is walked down to match the running back before the snap, since a linebacker matchup almost guarantees the angle route wins. Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with zone linebackers sitting underneath, which can squeeze the angle route if the defender reads the quarterback's eyes and drives on the throw. Key on user controlled defenders spying the backfield or lurking in the shallow zone, since a heads up user linebacker can jump the angle route and turn it into a pick six. Look for blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge, since the HB angle becomes the built in hot route answer against pressure and should be your first progression if protection breaks down. Beware disciplined zone defenses that pattern match, particularly Cover 6 or pattern match Cover 4, since these shells can pass off the angle route to a trailing linebacker or nickel defender and take away the easy completion.
Use this play on early downs or third and short when you expect a linebacker to be matched up on the running back in man coverage, since the angle route creates instant leverage against slower defenders. Check the middle of the field pre-snap for single high safety looks, which usually indicate man coverage underneath and open up the angle route as a quick, easy completion. If the defense shows blitz with a linebacker walked up near the box, hot route the HB angle into a quick swing or flat route to get the ball out before pressure arrives. Pair this play with RPO Glance Slant or Spacing from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game concepts and backfield releases, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits. Save this call for after you have shown Inside Zone or Same Side Zone a few times, since defenses that key on run action from this formation will bite on the play fake window created by the HB alignment.