Playbooks

Y Sail

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Y Sail is a classic sail concept out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex, built around a three level stretch to one side of the field. The Y (tight end) runs the sail route to the flat or intermediate, the outside receiver runs a deep corner or go to clear space, and an underneath receiver or back sits at the shallow level, creating a high low read for the QB. This is primarily a zone beater since it stresses the corner or flat defender vertically and horizontally, though it holds up against man coverage if the primary read wins early. The progression starts high to low: go route first to see if the defense busts deep, then down to the sail (TE) as the intermediate window, and finally checking down to the shallow flat option if the defense rallies underneath.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender post snap, if he sinks with the sail route the corner window opens for the deep out or corner route. Check safety depth pre-snap, a single high safety often signals Cover 3 which is where the sail concept shines against the curl to flat defender. Look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone since Y Sail's underdrag or checkdown option becomes vulnerable to a jumped route if he reads your quarterback's eyes. Cover 2 with aggressive corners can jump the sail route early, so be ready to climb the ladder to the deep corner route instead of forcing the intermediate throw. Man coverage with a linebacker matched on the TE is a green light look, since the sail route creates natural separation against slower defenders in space.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a peek at the flat defender to determine if you are getting zone drops or man press before the snap.

Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells first since the sail concept eats up the flat defender and stresses the corner who has to choose between the deep route and the sail route.

Hot route the shallow underneath option into a drag or option route against man coverage to give yourself a quick answer versus blitz looks.

This play works best on second and medium or third and long since it gives you a triangle read that survives most single high or two high shells.

Pair Y Sail with Mesh or Y Stick earlier in a drive so the defense respects the shallow crossers, then hit Y Sail to attack the same underneath defenders who start cheating up.