Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Under is a play-action flood concept out of Pistol Strong Slot Open designed to stress zone coverage on one side of the field while giving the quarterback a horizontal stretch to work through. The play-action fake to the running back on the blue path holds the linebackers, then the offense floods the right side with a Go route clearing vertically, a Corner route settling behind it, and a Flat route underneath, while the backside runs a Dig to cross the field into any voided space. The primary read progression starts with the flood side (Flat to Corner to Go) before working back to the Dig, making this a strong zone beater against coverages like Cover 3 and Cover 4 that struggle to defend three levels on one side of the field.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the safety alignment, if you see two high safeties shaded toward the flood side, expect Cover 4 or Cover 2 trying to take away the Go and Corner routes. Watch the flat corner and slot defender depth before the snap, tight press alignment signals man coverage which opens up the Dig route on the backside. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's reaction to the run fake, if he steps up hard he cannot get depth to wall off the Flat or Curl, giving the offense an easy completion underneath. Look for a user lurking underneath the Corner route, a smart defender will sit in the passing lane between the Flat and Corner to bait a throw, so double clutch before committing to that window. This play struggles against Cover 3 buzz drops where the cornerback flat cushions and the safety rotates over the top, taking away both the Corner and Go routes simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium to sell the run action and freeze linebackers before they can sink into their zone drops.
Read the flat defender first: if he sinks with the Corner route, hit the Flat for an easy pitch and catch, if he jumps the Flat, throw the Corner behind him.
Against man coverage, hot route the backside Dig into a Slant or Hitch since Dig can get picked off underneath by trailing linebackers in tight man concepts.
Pair this with HB Zone or FB Belly earlier in a series to condition the defense to respect the run fake, then hit them with the Under play-action shot when they bite on run keys.
Sequence this with Y Cross or PA Slide on later downs since both use similar backfield action but attack different zones, keeping defenders guessing on run versus flood reads.
