Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 15 playbooks
Breakdown
Return RZ Trail out of Shotgun Deuce Close (12 personnel) shows a motion tag that shifts the backfield alignment before the snap, then attacks with a three level route combination on the play side. The outside receiver runs a deep corner or return route pushing to the top of the diagram, the inside vertical breaks into a trail route sitting underneath at a shallow angle, and a third route works from the backfield or slot flat to the opposite hash on a shorter crossing pattern. This is a man beater built off the trail concept, using the underneath crosser to pick off man defenders trailing the vertical while the deep route stretches the boundary corner. Primary read progression starts with the deep corner/return route against single high safeties, works down to the trail route sitting in the void, then checks the underneath crosser as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the safety rotates to the trips or bunch side, single high shells open up the deep corner/return route as the number one target. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebacker drops signal zone coverage and should push your read down to the trail route sitting in the soft spot. Post-snap, key any user controlled defender sitting on the trail route depth, a lurking defender there means you should reset to the deep route or checkdown. This play beats man coverage heavily due to the trail route picking off trailing defenders, but it struggles against zone drops with linebackers sinking into the same window. Look for blitz timing off the edge, if the protection is not clean the quick checkdown route becomes your answer against pressure before the deep route develops.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you have a clean man coverage read.
Attack this play on third and medium to third and long situations in the red zone where the trail route concept punishes trailing defenders in man coverage.
If the corner route is blanketed by a deep safety in a two high shell, work your progression down immediately to the trail route sitting underneath for a high percentage completion.
Pair this play with Mtn Y Corner or Mtn Return Y-Shake from the same set to keep defenders guessing between deep shots and quick trail concepts out of identical formation and motion looks.
Hot route the underneath crosser to a quick out if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, giving you a fast throw against blitz pressure.
