Playbooks
Deep Attack
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Deep Attack lines up in Shotgun Spread Y-Slot with 11 personnel and sends four receivers vertically to stretch the field on a Four Verts based Flood concept. The two outside receivers run Go routes up the numbers while the slot receiver runs a Corner and the TE/inside receiver breaks on an Out at the sticks, and the RB releases to the boundary on an Out to give a shallow checkdown against pressure. The backside receiver runs a deep Corner route to occupy the opposite half, and this is a true man beater and Cover 3 beater built off vertical spacing to create one on one throwing lanes. Primary read progression is streak to streak first for the shot play, then work down to the slot Corner and the underneath Out routes if the safeties rotate deep.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety alignment since Deep Attack is designed to punish single high Cover 3 and Cover 1 looks with its vertical spacing. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, if corners bail immediately into deep zone drops that confirms zone coverage and tells you to work the Out routes underneath instead of forcing the Go routes. Key the slot defender on the Corner route, in Cover 3 this defender has to sink and cover a lot of ground, creating a natural throwing window if he steps up on the run action. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the deep middle third or lurking near the sticks, since Deep Attack's vertical stems are vulnerable to a rangy user safety jumping the Corner route. Look for disguised Cover 4 rotations post-snap, if all four verticals get matched deep by defenders bailing at the snap, the underneath Out routes to the TE and RB become the answer.
Usage Tips
Use Deep Attack on 2nd or 3rd and long when defenses are more likely to sit in Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells since the four verticals concept forces defenders to declare early.
Check pre-snap for two high safeties, if both safeties cheat to one side, hot route the backside Go into a Post to attack the vacated middle of the field.
Against man coverage, look immediately to your best route runner on the outside Go since the flood of verticals removes any deep help from underneath defenders.
Pair this play with Curls or Digs H Option earlier in a series to condition the defense to sit on shorter routes, then hit them with Deep Attack once safeties start creeping up.
If you see Cover 2 shells with corners playing outside leverage, slide your first read to the slot Corner route since it sits in the honey hole behind the corner and in front of the safety.
