Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
X Follow out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex is a mesh-heavy man beater built around a shallow drag and comeback combo underneath a vertical clear out. The X receiver runs a deep comeback to the boundary, the outside slot runs a shallow drag under a crossing route from the TE that flattens into a shallow, and the inside receiver on the mesh side works a deep in that "follows" behind the crosser while the backside receiver takes the top off with a go route. The read progression starts with the shallow drag against man leverage, works to the comeback if the corner sits soft, and comes back to the deep in over the mesh if the underneath defenders clear out.
Defensive Reads
Look for off man coverage or Cover 3 sky, both of which struggle to pattern match the mesh combo underneath. Press corners with inside leverage on the X receiver can jump the comeback route, so respect the sit down throw if that leverage is showing pre-snap. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they widen out to chase the shallow drag it opens a throwing lane for the deep in behind them. User controlled defenders sitting in a shallow hook zone are the biggest threat to this concept, since they can rob the mesh crossers if the quarterback stares them down. Cover 2 with hard corner flat support can squeeze the comeback route, so be ready to work the deep in or shallow drag as the checkdown against that shell.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for man leverage on the outside corner covering the X, since the comeback route only opens up if he plays off coverage or bails into a deep zone.
Use the mesh concept to create natural rubs against man coverage, forcing linebackers and nickel defenders to fight through traffic on the shallow drag.
This play shines on third and medium to third and long where the comeback and deep in give the quarterback two high percentage completions past the sticks.
Hot route the backside go route into a quick slant if you see press man with no safety help over the top, giving you an instant answer versus blitz.
Pair X Follow with Mesh or Y Shallow Cross earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping the shallow routes, then hit the comeback or deep in for an explosive play once they overplay the underneath.
