Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Trail Shake out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up three receivers to the trips side with a lone receiver backside. The two outside trips receivers push vertical seams up the numbers while the inside trips receiver runs a shallow drag under the seams and the backside X sprints an in-breaking route across the field, creating a shake concept that stacks a shallow crosser under a deep dig. The primary read starts with the shallow drag out of the backfield read, then progresses to the backside dig running across the field as the secondary window, using the two vertical seams to clear out underneath zones and hold linebackers in place.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop signals zone coverage that will struggle to wall off the shallow drag route working underneath. Key the backside corner leverage on the lone X receiver, if he plays outside shade with no safety help over the top the crossing route can be jumped by a sitting linebacker or safety in a Tampa 2 style shell. Identify two high safety alignment before the snap, since split safeties can rotate down to take away both the seam routes and the drag, effectively shutting down this concept and forcing you to check into a run. Post snap, track any user controlled defender flowing toward the shallow drag or lurking in the intermediate crossing lane, as a heads up defender sitting in that throwing lane can jump the route and create a turnover. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the trips side seam routes take longer to develop and can leave the quarterback exposed if the shallow drag is jumped by underneath defenders.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two-high or single-high safety look, since the two vertical seam routes on the trips side are designed to stress a single-high defender who has to choose between the seams and the crossing routes underneath.
Use the shallow drag as your first read against zone coverage because it settles into the void created by the seam routes pulling linebackers vertically, giving you a quick access throw before the pocket collapses.
Against man coverage, ride the backside dig across the field since it naturally picks up rub traffic from the trips concept and creates late separation against trailing corners or linebackers in man.
Pair this play with Curls or Y Stick HB Angle in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath concepts and this deeper shake concept, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their drops.
Best called on second or third and medium when you need a high low read that attacks both shallow and intermediate zones without needing a deep vertical shot.
