Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Clearout Pick Return is a man beater built off Trey Open Shotgun that uses a clearout route from the trips side to drag the deep defender out of the throwing lane while a rub/pick action underneath frees the return route for an easy completion. The motion tag adds pre-snap movement to help identify man versus zone before the snap, and the primary read progression starts with the return route working back to the quarterback, then bumps to the shallow crosser if the pick does not fully spring the receiver. Protection is a standard shotgun five or six man slide, so this is a quick game concept rather than a deep shot play.
Defensive Reads
Check the cornerback alignment on the trips side before the snap, tight press man alignment signals the pick will likely spring the return route open immediately. Watch how linebackers react to the motion, if they slide with the receiver across the formation that confirms man coverage and green lights the pick concept. Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, the clearout route still occupies the deep defender but the pick loses value since underneath zone defenders will sit and read the quarterback instead of chasing man assignments. Identify user controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field, a smart user can jump the return route if they anticipate the pick and undercut the throwing lane. Look for late blitz pressure off the edge, since a five man protection can be exposed if extra rushers loop around and force the quarterback to speed up his release before the pick fully develops.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to bait man defenders into following across the formation, which confirms man coverage and sets up the natural pick collision underneath.
Throw with anticipation to the return route as soon as the receiver breaks back toward the ball, since the pick action creates only a small window before defenders recover.
This play excels on third and short to third and medium because the return route settles quickly and gives the quarterback a high percentage completion versus tight man coverage.
Pair this call with Clearout Rub Return or Clearout in the same set to keep defenses guessing between two similar picks with different exit routes, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their jump technique.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look pre-snap, hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant as a built in answer since the pick concept will get muddied against extra rushers.
