Running the TEXAS route
Utilizing the “TEXAS” route in your offense
Explanation:
This route was pioneered, and used most notably by Mike Holmgren when he was a coach with the Green Bay Packers. He ran the Green Bay Packers offense with a West Coast Style and was successful. However he routinely played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who used a Cover 2 and Cover 4 base (their Cover 2 was actually called the Tampa Cover 2, because they dropped their MLB into coverage). These zone defenses focused on funneling the receivers into the center of the field where the linebackers had the best coverage. This defense had been shutting down the West Coast Offense.
That was until Holmgren began implementing the TEXAS route. With this route one of the backs (usually the FB) runs at a 45º angle towards the tackle on their side, they then cut in-field and up-field at a 45 º angle. This is complimented by the TE running a short and quick-developing inside route, like a hitch, and the outer receivers running deep routes.
The Quarter Back then watches the MLB. If the Middle Line Backer drops straight back, the Quarter Back hits the TE, if the Middle Line Backer stays down the Quarter Back hits the Back on the TEXAS route.
When the Back catches the ball he should head straight up-field, towards the goal post. The reason this will work is because the receivers running deep routes have pulled their safeties to the sidelines, leaving the middle of the field open.
Applying TEXAS to Your Plays:
This route can be found in almost all playbooks, and with the addition of route pulling in this year’s game, it can then be put in any formation, and in any play.
There are various route combinations for this play; fortunately all of these routes are hot routes so these routes can be put into any play.
Combination 1 (2 WR, 2 Backs, and a TE):
WR#1: Hot routed Fade
WR#2: Deep Out-Route
TE: Hitch
HB: TEXAS
FB: Flats
Combination 2 (2 WR, 2 Backs, and a TE):
WR#1: Hot routed Fade
WR#2: Deep Out-Route
TE: Streak
HB: TEXAS
FB: Hitch
Motion WR#1 pre-snap and hike after he has taken a few steps.
Combination 3(2 Compressed WR or TE, TE, and 2 backs)
Inner WR in Compressed Set: Shallow Out
Outer WR in Compressed Set: Quick In
TE: Streak
HB: Fade
FB: TEXAS
Motion HB out to TE’s side, then put HB on Fade and snap.
Combination 4(3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Back, Trips Bunch)
Outer WR (In bunch): Streak
Middle WR(TE): Screen
Inner WR: Quick-Out
HB: TEXAS
Outer WR (alone WR): Fade
Combination 5(4WR, 1 Back)
Inner WRs: Inside Slants
Outer WRs: Fades
HB: TEXAS
Making the Reads for the Combinations:
Combination 1:
This is the basic set-up, watch the Middle Line Backer. If he drops straight back, hit the Tight End’s hitch. If he stays, hit the TEXAS route. If they blitz, hit the Full Back in the flats.
Combination 2:
The reads are the same here except for Wide Reciever#1 the Safety and/or Corner Back will be sucked into the Tight End’s streak, in a zone-defense leaving, Wide Reciever#1 wide open.
Combination 3:
This combination provides a very solid man-beater, in addition to the TEXAS route. The shallow-out will almost always be open vs. a man-defense. Also the HB on the fade will have the same effect as in combination 2.
Combination 4:
This set-up is primarily a zone-beater. The TEXAS route and the screen route will be open vs. a zone-defense. Often, the quick-out is open vs. a man-defense, but it requires proper precision passing.
Combination 5:
The reads here are the same as combination 1. However, the inner-wide recievers replace the TE and FB with quick hitting routes.
Making the Completion:
Some people are unaware of how to complete this route. Simply wait until the Back running the route has crossed over the center, then precision pass in if the Safety is closing in on the back, if not precession pass out. There is no need to precision pass high or low for this route.
I hope implementing the TEXAS route into your offense creates as much success as it has in mine.
-Calvin and Hobbes
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Originally Posted by Operation Ivy
