Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn HB Choice out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Nasty is a trips-based dropback pass with an option route out of the backfield as the underneath answer. Pre-snap the HB motions across the formation into the backfield swing alignment before running his choice route, sitting or breaking based on the leverage of the flat defender, while the trips side stacks two vertical seam breakers off the numbers and a corner route working outside from the third receiver. The primary read starts with the backside vertical off the top of the screen, works to the trips seam runner, and checks down to the HB choice route as the built in hot against pressure or when the deep windows are closed, making this a zone beater that stresses the middle of the field with two verticals while giving the QB a safety valve versus disguised coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender assigned to the HB motion man since his leverage tells the HB whether to sit inside or break outside on the choice route. Read the safeties before the snap: two high shells with soft corners invite the seam routes from trips, while a single high safety rolling down suggests Cover 3 and a bigger throwing window up the seams. Post-snap, track the middle linebacker's drop depth since a shallow drop can squeeze the seam windows and force the quarterback to check down to the HB choice route. User players sitting in a lurk position over the trips side can jump the seam routes, so if you see a defender hanging in the middle of the field, work the backside vertical or the HB route instead. This concept struggles against disciplined Cover 2 with hard corner press since the seam routes get bumped off their stems and the choice route can get squeezed by an underneath defender sitting right on top of it.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion on the HB to identify man versus zone: if a defender follows him across the formation you know it is man coverage and the choice route becomes a natural rub versus underneath defenders.
Against zone shells look immediately to the two vertical seam routes from the trips side since Cover 3 and Cover 4 defenses often leave a soft spot between the hash and the numbers.
This play is best called on second or third and medium since the deep verticals need time to develop and the HB choice gives you an outlet if the rush gets home before those routes clear the linebackers.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Out or Flood HB Swing earlier in a series so the defense respects the HB in the flat, then hit them with the seam shots off the same motion look.
If the defense shows heavy pressure or a nano blitz look, hot route the HB choice route to a quick flat or stick route so you have a rhythm throw ready before the protection breaks down.
