Playbooks
Under
Breakdown
Under out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk is a play action pass built off a levels and flood concept to attack both sides of the field. To the left the TE runs a quick slant while the outside receiver clears out on a deep out, and the HB releases from the backfield on a delayed flat route after selling run action, creating a natural levels read underneath. To the right the outside receiver runs a deep comeback style out that clears the boundary while the inside receiver climbs vertically on a go route to stretch the safety, giving the quarterback a true flood look on the boundary side and a curl flat combo on the field side. The primary read starts with the play action mesh and HB flat underneath, then works to the slant, and finally to the field side comeback and vertical if the underneath windows are taken away, making this an effective Cover 3 beater with man beater traits on the slant and flat combo.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safeties since Under is designed to exploit Cover 3 zone drops with its flood and levels combos. Watch the flat defender to the HB side immediately after the snap, if he sits on the slant the flat route will be wide open in the play action window. Key the corner on the flood side, if he bails into a deep zone drop the comeback route settles into the open grass underneath him. If the defense shows two high safeties pre-snap, expect the vertical route to be capped, so plan to work back to the levels concept on the opposite side. Man beater blitz packages can be an issue if the offensive line does not pick up extra rushers, so identify Cover 0 or heavy blitz looks pre-snap and consider a quick hot route or check to a faster developing throw.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to confirm if the defense is showing a single high shell before the snap since this play thrives against Cover 3 and Cover 1 looks.
If the corner to the flood side is playing deep off coverage, hotwire the vertical route into a slot fade or hitch to punish soft zone drops.
Pair this with Inside Cross or Quick Slants earlier in a series so the play action fake off Under hits harder once linebackers start stepping up on run reads.
On third and medium, lean on the HB flat and TE slant combo since it gives a fast underneath answer against blitz heavy man coverage looks.
Against Cover 2 shells, prioritize the flood side comeback route since it settles in the void between the corner and safety before the safety can rotate over.
