Playbooks

Deep In

Shotgun·Doubles·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Power Run OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Deep In out of Shotgun Doubles 11 personnel is a zone beater built around deep in-breaking routes designed to settle in the soft spots between the second and third levels of the defense. The concept sends receivers on in-cuts at intermediate to deep depth while a shorter route occupies underneath defenders to create horizontal separation. The primary read progression starts with the deep in route to the field side, working to the backside in breaker if the initial window is closed, and checking down to the underneath route or running back late if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Identify two deep safeties pre-snap since this indicates zone coverage where the in-breaking routes can settle in soft spots between defenders Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle or hook linebackers drop too shallow the deep in routes will sit behind them for an easy completion Beware of user-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate middle zone, since a rover or spy defender can jump the in-breaking route and create a turnover Cover 3 with a deep middle robber can shut this play down since the extra defender in the intermediate area takes away the primary in route window Man coverage with press corners and no safety help over the top can disrupt this concept if the underneath route is not adjusted, so be ready to hot route against Cover 0 or Cover 1 blitz looks

Usage Tips

Look for two high safety shells pre-snap since Deep In thrives against split safety zone coverage like Cover 2 and Cover 4 where the in-breaking routes settle between the corner and safety zones

Use motion or a quick pre-snap read on the linebackers to gauge if they are dropping into deep zones or sitting in shallow hook areas, since a linebacker sitting too deep opens a throwing lane underneath

Hot route the underneath receiver into a shallow drag or spot route if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since this gives you a quick answer against blitz looks

This play works best on second and long or third and medium situations where you need to attack the intermediate zones without forcing the ball into tight man coverage windows

Pair this call with Curl Flats or Curl Combo earlier in a drive to condition the defense to sit on shorter zone drops, then hit Deep In to attack the void those flatter routes create

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