Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Sail out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk is a classic three-level flood concept built to attack one side of the field. To the trips/near side, the outside receiver runs a deep corner route (red), the slot runs a crossing route underneath it, and the inline TE releases to the flat, creating a high-low-low stretch on the flat defender and deep third defender. Backside, the far receiver runs a deep comeback while the underneath option works a shallow drag across the field, giving the QB a full-field progression read from the corner route down to the flat and across to the drag. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to stretch zone defenders vertically and horizontally, with the corner route sitting behind the cornerback and in front of the deep safety.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and width: two safeties splitting the field wide signals Cover 2, a single deep safety in the middle signals Cover 3. Post-snap, the cornerback on the flood side is the key defender: if he sinks into the corner route throwing lane, the flat route underneath becomes the answer. Watch for user-controlled safeties jumping the corner route as a lurk threat, since aggressive user play on that route can bait a pick if the QB does not process the sink. Man coverage with no help over the top struggles against the corner route since it is designed to break away from trailing defenders in man beater form. Blitz packages that bring five or six rushers force a faster progression, so recognize pressure looks pre-snap and be ready to hit the flat or shallow drag quickly instead of holding for the corner route.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or one high safety before the snap to confirm Cover 2 or Cover 3 shell.
If you see Cover 2, key the flat defender: if he sinks with the flat route the corner route window opens behind him, if he jumps the flat throw the corner route immediately.
Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where defenses lean on zone drops instead of man coverage.
Hot route the backside drag into a deeper dig or option route against teams that key on the shallow crosser with underneath zone defenders.
Pair Sail with Curls or Four Verticals in the same set so the defense cannot sit on the corner route concept without opening up quick game underneath.
