Playbooks
Clear Deep
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Clear Deep is a four verticals style play-action beater run from Shotgun Empty Bunch Tight. Off the bunch, two receivers stack verticals up the seam while the third bunch man runs a corner route to clear the flat, and the backside receiver runs a deep out that pairs with the isolated receiver's go route to flood one side deep. There is no run action shown, this is a straight drop back pass with the bunch releasing vertically to attack both zone and man coverage, and the primary read starts with the two inside seam verts before working to the corner and backside out as zone or man beaters depending on leverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify the safety count, two high shells invite the corner route read while one high shells invite the seam read. Watch the linebackers at the snap, if they sink deep into zone drops the seam verts will be crowded and you should reset to the corner or backside out. Key the flat or curl defender's depth, a shallow drop opens the corner route window immediately. Against man coverage look for a slot corner or safety in trail position on the bunch receivers, that leverage tells you the seam verts will win against inside shade. Beware disguised Cover 1 with a robber sitting underneath, that defender can jump the seam route if you telegraph the throw too early.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, two deep safeties tells you Cover 2 or Cover 4 and you should target the corner route sitting behind the flat defender and in front of the safety. Single high safety pre-snap means Cover 3 or Cover 1, so hammer the two seam verts against the middle third defender who cannot cover both. Against man coverage look immediately to the backside out route since it creates natural separation off the break against trail technique. Use this play on second or third and long when you need to stress the defense vertically and force a big play decision from the deep defenders. Pair Clear Deep with Quick Slants or Spacing from the same set to keep the defense honest on early downs before hitting them with the four verts shot.
