Playbooks
Breakdown
Out N Under is a trips-side pass concept from Pistol Trips Left Open that pairs an under crosser with an out route to attack both zone and man coverage. The backside X runs a deep vertical stem before breaking hard to the sideline on an out route while the slot Y runs a shallow under route across the field, and from the trips side the outer receiver runs a deep comeback while the middle trips receiver runs a corner/post breaking route and the inside trips receiver runs a wheel route out of the backfield area. The primary read starts with the backside out route against man coverage or single high shells, then progresses to the under crosser as a shorter option, and finally to the trips side comeback and wheel combo if the defense rotates to take away the initial reads.
Defensive Reads
Watch cornerback depth on the backside X receiver pre-snap, if he is playing off coverage the out route is there almost immediately after the break. Key the flow of linebackers after the snap, if they widen with the under crosser it opens throwing lanes for the out route on the boundary. Identify user-controlled defenders dropping into the shallow zone since a lurking linebacker or nickel can jump the under route and bait a turnover. Look for single high safety rotation to the trips side, which signals man coverage underneath and makes the backside out and under combo the more efficient side to attack. Against zone blitz looks, get the ball out on the under route quickly since the shallow crosser beats delayed pressure before it arrives.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties the backside out route has a soft spot against Cover 2 corners playing off. If the corner is playing tight man on the backside X, hot route him to a quick out and throw with anticipation before he can recover. Use the under route as your safety valve against zone blitzes or when the pocket collapses since it settles into the shallow void underneath linebackers. Pair this play with Y Stick or Stick from the same set to keep the defense guessing on quick game versus the deeper out and under combo. Best used on second and medium or third and short where the sideline timing route can move the chains quickly.
