Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Corner N Go's out of Shotgun Deuce Close is a double outside vertical concept with both perimeter receivers running go routes up the sideline while the two inside tight ends release into corner routes underneath them, creating a natural high low stretch on each side of the field. This is a pure man beater designed to attack cornerbacks who are playing tight or trailing technique, since the corner route occupies underneath defenders and clears space for the go route on top. The primary read progression starts with the corner routes to see if a leverage mismatch opens quickly, then works to either go route if the safety bites down or if you get a one on one shell with no deep help over the top.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, since two deep safeties rotated over the top of both go routes signals this play will be tougher to complete deep and you should prioritize the corner routes underneath instead. Watch for cornerbacks lined up in press or tight man technique before the snap, which is the biggest indicator this concept will work because the go route is designed to stack and separate against exactly that alignment. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender dropping into a deep third or robbing the corner route, since a lurking underneath defender sitting on the corner route can jump the throw if you stare it down too long. Identify if the defense brings a blitz off the edge, since with no built-in check beyond the RB, a fast four or five man rush can force you to get the ball out before either deep route fully develops. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with disciplined deep defenders are the toughest matchups for this play, while Cover 1 or Cover 0 man looks with no safety help over the top are where this concept is most explosive.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, because this play is most dangerous against single high looks where the corner route can occupy the flat defender and the go route wins outside against a corner with no deep help.
Use this on second and long or third and long situations near midfield where you need explosive plays and are willing to take a shot down the field instead of settling for a checkdown.
If you see man coverage indicators like a corner mirroring the receiver's motion or tight bump alignment, trust the go route immediately off the snap since this concept is built to punish man technique.
Pair this play with Corner Go's Flat or Both Stick earlier in a series so the defense starts respecting shorter combination routes, then hit them with the double go verticals once they sit on underneath zones.
Against teams that like to play zone match concepts, hot route one of the corner routes into a shallow drag or use the RB as a check valve since the deep shots may take longer to develop and you need an outlet to avoid a sack.
