Playbooks
Breakdown
Middle Hooks is a play-action flood concept out of the Weak I Wing formation with 22 personnel on the field. Off the play-action fake, the play sends a go route up the seam from the wing (X mark to the vertical breakout), a deep out breaking to the boundary from the outside receiver, a swing route releasing to the flat that curls upfield into a corner-ish climb, and a curl flat route sitting underneath, creating a three-level flood to one side while a middle hook sits in the intermediate zone against the linebackers. This is a Cover 3 beater designed to stress the flat, hook, and deep third defenders simultaneously with horizontal and vertical spacing. The primary read progression starts with the curl flat in the underneath window, works up to the middle hook against zone drops, and progresses to the deep out or go route if the corner bites on anything short.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap since that usually signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, both of which this flood concept is designed to attack. Watch the flat defender post-snap: if he sinks with the curl flat route, the throwing window to the deep out opens up immediately behind him. Key the middle linebacker's drop, since a shallow hook drop leaves the intermediate window open for the hook route sitting behind him. User the deep third defender to the play-action side, because if he bites on the run fake the go route up the seam can win over the top before help arrives. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 2 Man with strong flat and deep coverage help, so disguise a two high shell and squeeze the flood routes with sound leverage from the corner and safety.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since this play is built to punish Cover 3 rotation and static zone drops. Use the play-action fake to hold linebackers before working through the flood read from the flat to the hook to the deep out. Hot route the middle hook into a deeper crossing route if you diagnose man coverage, since the natural flood concept loses value against Cover 1 or Cover 2 Man. Pair this call with HB Power O or HB Gut earlier in a series so the play-action fake actually freezes second level defenders on third down or in second and short situations. Sequence this play after TE Drag or X Slant to condition the defense to expect quick game, then hit Middle Hooks for an explosive shot when they sit on shorter routes.
