Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Jets Y-Drag out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up with three receivers to the boundary and the TE/H off the ball. The three-receiver side runs a vertical clear with a corner breakout and a deep dig to stretch the defense downfield, while the backside X runs an outside release drag that crosses the entire formation, and the TE releases underneath into the flat as a checkdown. The primary read starts with the drag coming across from the backside since it stresses the middle of the field against man coverage and settles into soft zone windows, then progresses to the flat route from the TE before working back to the deep dig or corner if the pocket holds up.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety pre-snap, this tells you the defense is likely in man or a rotating zone that the drag route can exploit before the safety can rotate over. Watch the slot corner and linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink deep with the vertical routes the drag will have a wide open throwing lane underneath. Key the flat defender's leverage, if he widens with the TE's release the drag has a natural pick and separation window right behind him. Cover 3 zone with an aggressive curl-flat defender can undercut the drag, so be ready to work the deep dig or corner if that flat defender sits and reads the quarterback's eyes. User lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle zone are the biggest threat to this concept since they can jump the drag route, so scan for a spy or robber before committing to the first read.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage first since the drag route is a true man beater that picks up natural rub help from the trips side traffic.
Check the flat defender pre-snap, if the corner or slot defender is sitting on the flat you have room to work the drag underneath him for extra yards after catch.
Hot route the TE to a quick out if you see a blitz look, this gives you a fast answer against overload pressure without eating a sack.
Pair this play with Curls or Quick Slants from the same set so the defense has to respect both the underneath crossers and the quick game, keeping linebackers honest.
Best called on second and medium or third and short since the drag is a high percentage completion but the deep dig and corner give you shot potential if the coverage bites on the crosser.
