Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
SE Corner out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex is a three level route combination built around the boundary corner route from the flex TE lined up outside. The trips side runs a flare/flat route from the outside receiver into a shallow drag underneath, while the slot runs a quick out to the sideline, and the backside single WR runs a deep dig that breaks across the middle. The primary read is the TE corner route on the numbers, working back to the flat route and dig if the corner is taken away by a deep defender.
Defensive Reads
Key the flex TE at the snap, since his release outside and vertical stem into the corner is the primary indicator of where the ball is going first. Watch the deep safety rotation, if the safety cheats toward the trips side the backside dig becomes the open window. Identify if a linebacker or nickel defender walls off the flat route, since that tells you the defense is playing underneath zone drops rather than man match. Look for a corner blitz or edge pressure off the trips side, the flare route out of the backfield or slot serves as the outlet if the protection breaks down. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4, the corner route can get squeezed by the deep outside defender, so be ready to reset to the dig or flat as the true beater versus those shells.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for single high versus two high safety alignment, since the corner route from the TE attacks the void behind the corner and in front of the safety in two high shells.
If the defense shows man coverage, hot route the flat runner into a quick option or speed out to create separation against a linebacker in coverage.
Use this on second and medium to long or third and medium when you need a chunk play that also has a built in checkdown against a blitz.
Pair this with Levels Y Corner or Post Y Dig from the same set to keep the defense guessing between corner breaking routes and inside breaking routes off similar formation looks.
Against zone heavy defenses, work the dig route on the backside first since it settles in the soft spot vacated by underneath zone defenders sliding to the trips side.
