Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Shock H Option is a trips-based pass concept out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that uses a pre-snap look with a boundary X running a vertical seam route on the backside. To the trips side, the innermost H runs an option route out of the backfield area, breaking outside off the option read, while the two outside receivers run a vertical from the flat and a hitch to seam combo that stretches the numbers vertically and horizontally. The single-back protection lets the QB work the option route first against man or zone leverage before climbing to the deep seam shots, making this both a man beater and a zone beater depending on how the option route settles.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker assigned to the option route area, if he sits flat footed at the snap it signals zone coverage underneath. Read the safety over the trips side, rotation to that side before the snap usually means Cover 3 or Cover 4 match with extra help on the verticals. If the corner over the outside trips receiver presses hard at the line, expect man coverage and prioritize the option route breaking away from that leverage. Watch for a slot blitz off the trips side, since the option route can be a hot route conversion into a quick throw against pressure. Cover 2 shells with the safety staying deep and corner sinking under the outside vertical tend to shut down the deep shot routes, forcing the checkdown to the option route.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap to see if it is a single high or two high shell before locking onto the option route side.
Use motion if available to identify man coverage by watching if a defender follows the H across the formation.
Hot route the backside X vertical into a comeback against soft zone shells where the corner sits deep at the snap.
Pair this play with Curls X Go or Fl Dig in the same set to keep defenders honest on option route reads over the middle.
Best called on second and medium to long or third and short where the option route has room to settle into a natural void.
