Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Deep In runs out of Shotgun Doubles 11 personnel and is built around a pair of deep in-breaking routes designed to sit down behind linebackers and in front of deep safeties. The concept features one receiver running a deep dig or in-cut from the boundary while the backside receiver runs a complementary in-breaking route, creating a natural high-low read against zone drops. This is primarily a zone beater, with the primary read progression starting on the deep in route to the strongside, working backside to the second in-breaker if the first window is closed by underneath defenders.
Defensive Reads
Identify pre-snap whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high safety, since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with deep help will squeeze the throwing window on the deep in more than a single high look. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, because if the Mike or Will linebacker sprints to a shallow hook zone instead of sitting at intermediate depth, the deep in route will sit in open grass behind them. Key the flow of the safety on the side of your primary in route, since a safety that bites on play action or crashes down on the run fake will vacate the deep middle and create a big throwing lane. Beware user-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate middle of the field, as a smart user will jump the deep in route and undercut it for a pick six if the quarterback stares it down. Against man coverage, this play loses effectiveness quickly, so if you see man alignment with corners pressed or shaded outside, check to a different concept like Mesh or Drag Under that beats man coverage more reliably.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium to long situations where you expect zone coverage like Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells rather than tight man coverage.
Check the middle of the field pre-snap for a single high safety, since that alignment usually signals a linebacker will have to cover the deep in route in a hook zone, which is a favorable matchup for your receiver.
Hot route the underneath outlet receiver into a shallow drag or flat route if you anticipate a blitz, giving your quarterback a quick answer against pressure.
Pair this play with Curl Flats or Curls Slot Shake in your play-calling sequence, since those quicker breaking concepts condition the defense to jump underneath routes, opening up the deep in behind them on the next snap.
Snap the ball with tempo after running a hurry-up look off of RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek, since defenses that key run fits will be slow to rotate back and cover the deep in window.
