Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Vertical TE Out from Shotgun Open Flex sends both outside receivers on vertical seams to stretch the deep coverage while the inline TE runs a quick out to the flat and the slot receiver runs a shallow drag underneath. The RB stays in to check release and protect, giving the QB a clean pocket to work through his reads. This is a man beater at its core, using the two verticals to occupy corners and safeties while the TE out and drag give the QB a quick answer against off coverage or blitz looks, with the progression starting at the TE out, then working to the drag, and finally the verticals if a defender bites late.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety looks pre-snap since the two verticals will stress a lone deep defender and open up the TE out underneath. Watch the flat defender or slot corner at the snap, if he sinks with the drag the TE out will be wide open in the void behind him. Against zone coverage, key the linebacker drops, a shallow zone drop will take away the drag but leave the TE out vulnerable in the intermediate flat. User the deep safety to bracket one of the verticals if the offense shows this concept often, forcing the QB to check down into tighter throwing windows. Bring a nano blitz off the edge to disrupt the QB before he can progress through his reads, since the play relies on a clean pocket for the quick TE out and drag combo.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs against off man coverage to get an easy completion on the TE out before defenders can jump the route.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot corner and if he is playing outside leverage, the drag underneath will be wide open.
Hot route the drag into a deeper crossing route against zone shells to give the QB a bigger throwing window over the middle.
Pair this play with Deep Outs in the same set to keep defenders guessing between quick TE outs and deeper sideline throws.
Use in third and short to medium situations since the TE out and drag give the QB two quick, high percentage options underneath the verticals.
