Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat TE Angle is a Shotgun pass concept out of Normal Y Off Close with 11 personnel that combines a wheel style angle route out of the backfield with three vertical clearing routes. Two receivers on the boundary run straight verticals while the slot receiver runs an out and up (corner style) route, and the TE releases outside from a tight alignment before turning it up the seam, all while the running back angles out of the backfield and up the field to attack the void underneath. This is a man beater at its core, since the backfield angle route exploits linebackers in man coverage who cannot stay in phase on the change of direction, while the three verticals stretch the deep defenders and clear underneath space. Primary read progression starts with the HB angle route out of the backfield, then climbs to the TE seam release, and finishes with the outside verticals if the defense drops extra help underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a linebacker or nickel defender aligned tight to the box pre-snap, since man coverage on that defender is what makes the angle route so dangerous. If the defense shows two high safeties with underneath zone drops, expect the flow to funnel toward the TE seam route as the primary answer instead of the angle route. Man coverage with no underneath help is the biggest liability against this concept, since the HB angle route will consistently create leverage and separation. A well timed blitz that gets home before the angle route develops can disrupt the entire progression, so defenders should key the backfield release immediately after the snap. Zone coverages with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle can jump the angle route and the TE seam simultaneously, taking away both of the quarterback's first two reads.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap defensive alignment for a linebacker walked up over the backfield, since that is the exact defender this angle route is designed to expose in man coverage.
Use motion if available to identify man versus zone before the snap, then lock onto the HB angle route immediately if the defense shows man match or blitz.
Against zone shells, hold the ball an extra beat and let the outside verticals occupy the deep defenders so the TE seam route can settle into the vacated middle of the field window.
This play works best on early downs or third and short to medium since the angle route is a high percentage completion that can be schemed for YAC after the catch.
Pair this with Cheat Flat X Post or Cheat Slash Wheel In from the same set to keep defenses guessing between angle beaters and flat or wheel combos out of an identical presnap look.
