Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Deep Outs from Shotgun Open Flex sends both outside receivers on hard out breaks at intermediate depth while the inline TE runs a deep corner route up the seam and outside toward the sideline, stretching the defense both vertically and horizontally. The slot runs a shallow crossing route underneath as a checkdown option against zone drops. This is a man beater at its core, using the out cuts to create instant separation against man coverage and the TE corner to attack any single-high safety who bites on the shorter routes, with the primary read progression going TE corner first, then working to either out route based on which cornerback opens his hips first.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and corner alignment since tight man coverage with no deep help is exactly what this concept is designed to exploit. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender flying over the top of the TE corner route, which signals the offense should have worked the shorter out routes instead. Cover 3 zone defenses with a deep middle safety can take away the TE corner route by sinking into that throwing lane, forcing the quarterback to check down to the out routes. Linebacker drops into the shallow crossing lane will eliminate the checkdown option, so watch for spy or zone drop linebackers sitting in that area. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing of the outs, so identify pre-snap blitz alignment and get the ball out quickly if pressure is showing.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight with no safety help over the top before calling this play, since the out routes need the separation that man leverage provides.
If you see two-high safeties, prioritize the TE corner route since it attacks the seam between the safety and the sideline before he can get over the top.
Hot route the underneath crosser into a quick option route if the defense shows blitz, giving your quarterback a fast outlet to beat pressure.
Pair this with HB Dive or an RPO from the same set to keep linebackers honest and prevent them from sitting on the out breaking routes.
Best used on second or third and medium to long situations where the sideline routes have room to work and the defense is more likely to play off coverage.
