Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Double In is a five-man route empty concept out of Shotgun Base with 11 personnel, built to attack the middle of the field with two in-breaking routes stacked at different depths. The two outside receivers run vertical routes up the numbers to hold the corners and safeties deep, the slot receiver runs a short in-cut underneath, and the two inside receivers (TE and slot) run the namesake double in routes, one shallow crosser sitting under the linebackers and one deep in route working over the top of them. Since there is no running back in the backfield, this is a pure dropback pass with no play-action or RPO element, and the primary read progresses from the deep in route working outside-in against zone coverage down to the shallow in and short in-cut versus man pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the depth of the middle linebackers and any nickel or dime defender aligned over the slot receivers running the in routes, since shallow linebacker depth signals a Tampa 2 or Cover 3 look that can be exploited underneath. Watch safety alignment: two safeties deep and spread wide open up the void between the hook zones that the deep in route is designed to hit. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk position in the middle of the field, since that player is baiting the deep in read and can jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down. Man coverage with press corners on the outside verticals combined with tight linebacker coverage on the inside in routes is the best way to shut this play down, since there is no built-in man beater breakoff route on the shallow in-cut. Blitz-heavy fronts with no spy or delayed zone drop from the second level will get behind this route concept fastest since there is no check-down or hot route protection built into the empty look, so an unaccounted rusher forces an immediate throwaway or sack.
Usage Tips
Use Double In on third and medium to third and long where linebackers are more likely to sit in underneath zones, since the two in-breaking routes are designed to split the difference between the hook zones. Pre-snap, check for two-high safety shells; if the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4, target the deep in route sitting behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties. If you see man coverage with no deep help over the middle, work the shallow in-cut first since it creates immediate separation off the break against trailing defenders. Hot route the outside verticals into quick hitches or slants if you diagnose a Cover 0 or all-out blitz look, since the verticals alone will not get open fast enough against five or six man pressure. Pair this play with Stick or Curl Flats out of the same set to keep the defense honest on shorter combination routes, then come back to Double In once you have baited linebackers into jumping quicker underneath routes.
