Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
WR Under is a quick-hitting man beater out of Spread Y-Slot Wk in Shotgun with 11 personnel. To the boundary, the outside receiver runs a deep in that crosses the field while the slot receiver clears underneath on a slant, creating a natural pick/rub combo. The backside runs a vertical clearing route into a deep in that cuts across the field, while the wheel route out of the backfield attacks the flat and up the sideline. Primary progression starts with the underneath slant/flat area for a quick throw, then works to the deep in crossing route if the initial window is late developing.
Defensive Reads
Check pre-snap for press man coverage on the outside receivers since the rub route combo on the left side is built specifically to defeat tight man technique. Look at safety depth and rotation before the snap since a two-high shell that rotates late can jump the deep in crossing routes if the user drops a defender into that window. Post-snap, key the flow of the middle linebacker since he is the primary threat to the wheel route out of the backfield if he stays home instead of chasing the shallow crosser. Against zone coverage, this play struggles more since the underneath crossers can run into sitting zone defenders, so identify Cover 2 or Cover 3 shells pre-snap and consider an audible if linebackers are sitting at intermediate depth. Watch for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing lane, since that is the primary disguise defenses use to bait the quick throw into a jump-ball interception.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with tight press alignment on the outside receivers since the rub concept on the left side is designed to shake defenders loose against man.
Use this play on early downs or third and short since the quick slant and flat combo gets the ball out fast against blitz-heavy looks.
Hot route the backside vertical into a comeback if you see single-high safety help rotating late, giving you a sideline option against Cover 3 buzz.
Pair this with Double Slants or Quick Slants earlier in a drive to condition the defense to jump underneath routes, then hit the deep in crosser here for an explosive gain once linebackers start sitting on short throws.
Watch the wheel route out of the backfield against man coverage since it isolates a linebacker or nickel defender who typically cannot stay in phase down the sideline.
