Playbooks
Horizontal
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Horizontal out of Shotgun Split Slot Open is a flood concept that stretches one side of the field with three distinct levels. The outside receiver runs a vertical go route to clear out the corner and safety, the slot runs a deep out that settles at the sticks, and the backfield receiver runs a slant flat underneath into the flat. On the backside, the isolated receiver runs a deep comeback/curl up the numbers as a hot route outlet against soft coverage. This is a Cover 3 beater and man beater built off high low horizontal spacing, and the primary read progression works flat to out to go, working low to high off the flat defender's leverage.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender first since his depth and width tell you whether the underneath flat or the intermediate out will be open. Watch the corner over the go route route runner, if he stays flat footed or bails deep, know that a user controlled defender may be sitting in a lurk position to jump the out route. Against Cover 3, the deep third defender to the flood side has to choose between the out and the go route, creating a natural conflict that this play exploits. Against man coverage, check for a linebacker or safety matched on the flat route since that mismatch is the fastest way to pick up yardage. If the defense shows heavy blitz pressure with man coverage behind it, get the ball out immediately on the flat or slant route since the flood concept does not hold up well against extra rushers with no time to develop the deeper routes.
Usage Tips
Identify pre-snap whether the defense is showing single high or two high shells before the snap since this concept punishes Cover 3 hard with the flood side. If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, take a shot on the go route immediately since it clears out vertically. Use the flat route as your check down against a blitz look since it gets open fast and limits negative plays. Pair this with Dbl Slant or Mesh from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick horizontal stretches and crossing patterns. Best called on second and medium to third and short since the flat and out routes convert quickly, but it can also hit explosive if the corner bites on the flat route and opens the go route.
