Playbooks

Hitches

Split Backs·Pro·21

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationSplit Backs

SetPro

Personnel

212 RB · 1 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Hitches is a quick-game passing concept out of the Pro Split Backs formation, built around a full slate of hitch routes designed to attack soft zone coverage and get the ball out before pressure arrives. The route combo relies on receivers sitting down at five to six yards and turning to face the quarterback, giving him multiple stick points across the field on any given snap. This is a zone beater at its core, with the primary read progression working from the boundary hitch to the field hitch, then working backside if the linebackers or corners squat too aggressively on the underneath routes.

Defensive Reads

Read the cornerback depth at the snap, since off man or soft zone corners give the hitch route room to sit down and turn for an easy completion. Watch the linebacker drops in the middle of the field, because Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with linebackers sinking hard underneath will suffocate the intermediate hitch windows. Key on any user controlled defender lurking near the numbers, since a smart user will bait the quarterback into throwing the hitch and jump the route for a pick six. Press man coverage on the outside is the biggest killer of this play, since corners can jam the route before the receiver ever gets to his breakpoint. Blitz packages with delayed linebacker pressure are dangerous here too, since the extended time needed for receivers to sit down and turn can get the quarterback hit if protection breaks down.

Usage Tips

Use Hitches on second and short or third and short when you need a safe, high percentage completion against zone shells like Cover 2 or Cover 3. Identify pre-snap whether corners are playing off man or zone, since hitches get eaten alive by aggressive press man corners who can jump the route before the receiver turns around. Hot route your slot receiver into a quick out or speed out if you diagnose Cover 3 sink, since that removes the sitting duck target and creates a natural zone beater against the flat defender. Pair this call with HB Draw or FB Belly out of the same Split Backs look to keep defenses honest against the run after they start jumping the quick hitch throws. Sequence Hitches with Quick Outs or Curl Flat later in a series so the defense cannot key on the same footwork and drop pattern from the linebackers snap after snap.