Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Shock H Option is a trips weak pass concept out of Shotgun with a pre-snap motion tag that shifts the H back across the formation before the snap. At the snap the backside X runs a vertical seam to the boundary while the trips side clears out with an out and go on the outside receiver, a corner route from the inside slot, and an option route from the H off the motion that reads the underneath defender for a hook, flat, or seam break. The lone in-line Y stays in as a check release or pass protector, giving the quarterback a five man protection look while he works the option route as the primary read against man or zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety to match the H motion, that shift is your first tell for man coverage responsibility. Post-snap, key the underneath defender assigned to the option route, if he sinks into a hook zone the option breaks outward to the flat, if he stays flat footed in man the option breaks vertical or inward for separation. Watch the deep safety alignment before the snap, a two high shell signals the corner route from the slot will have support over the top, while a single high look opens up the backside vertical seam as the bigger explosive play. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge away from the trips side can disrupt the option read timing since the quarterback needs a full beat to diagnose the underneath defender, so a spy or edge rusher unaccounted for by the Y or backfield protection is the biggest threat. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender jumping the option route route can shut this down early, so recognize squat corners or aggressive zone drops and be ready to climb the progression to the corner or seam routes instead.
Usage Tips
Motion the H pre-snap and watch how the defense adjusts, if a linebacker or safety follows the motion man it confirms man coverage and you should let the option route break away from that defender immediately.
Against zone shells, hold the ball a beat longer and let the option route settle into the soft spot between the underneath zone and deep coverage before delivering the throw.
Use the backside vertical seam as a built in answer to single high safety looks or when the defense rotates its coverage away from the trips side after the motion.
Pair this play with Boomerang Y Lead Read Option or Mtn Y Lead Read Option in your call sheet so defenses cannot key on the option route concept without also respecting the run action tags.
Best used on second and medium or third and short since the option route gives the quarterback a built in sit down conversion if the defense crowds the trips side receivers.
