Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Y Corner out of Shotgun Trey Open (11 personnel) sends the backside X on a deep vertical release up the sideline while the trips side stacks routes underneath: the inside slot runs a quick out that turns into a shallow drag/hook, the middle slot bends into a corner route breaking outside, and the outside receiver on the trips side runs a deep corner that clears space for the TE (Y) breaking to the corner behind him. The TE Y aligned inline releases up the seam and bends into the corner route as the primary target, working the deep outside third against zone or beating man coverage on the break. Blocking is max protect with the RB releasing late into the shallow zone, giving the QB a clean pocket to read the deep corner first, then work down to the shallow drag and out route underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage, if both safeties are deep and wide this indicates two high shell and the corner route has a bigger throwing window. Watch the flat defender on the trips side, if he sinks with the shallow out or drag route that opens a passing lane for the TE's corner route behind him. Key the backside cornerback on the X receiver's deep vertical release, if he bails immediately into a deep zone drop that confirms zone coverage and you should target the sideline corner route. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender flowing toward the trips side, a lurking linebacker or safety jumping the shallow route can bait a throw, look off that defender before committing to the corner. This play struggles against press man with safety help over the top or a Cover 2 shell where the corner sits and squeezes the sideline, in those situations look to hot route or check down to the shallow drag instead of forcing the corner.
Usage Tips
Use this on 2nd or 3rd and medium to long when you need to attack the sideline and have time to let the corner route develop.
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safeties: against a two high shell the deep corner has more room to work between the safety and corner, against single high look for the backside X's deep vertical to hold that safety.
If you see man coverage with no help over the top, prioritize the Y Corner route since the TE can win on the break against most linebackers and safeties in man.
Hot route the shallow drag into a deeper crossing route if you diagnose zone coverage with a sitting linebacker, this gives you a true zone beater underneath the corner route.
Pair this play with Curls or Stick from the same set to keep the defense honest on shorter throws, then come back to Y Corner once they start jumping underneath routes.
