Playbooks
Divide Swap
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Divide Swap out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close puts three receivers to one side and shows a Scissors concept from the trips look, with the inside slot running a corner route and the outside receiver crossing underneath on an out, creating natural traffic for man defenders. The backside receiver runs a vertical go route to hold the deep half, while the tight end or slot from the closed side runs a slant across the field on a shallow crossing pattern that settles or continues depending on leverage. This is a man beater built on the scissors traffic to spring the corner route open, with the primary read starting on the scissors combo before working back to the crosser against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender to the trips side immediately after the snap, since if he sinks with the out route it opens a throwing lane for the corner route behind him. Watch for press man corners on the outside receiver in the scissors, since they will struggle to navigate the crossing traffic and give up easy separation. Identify single high versus two high safety alignment pre-snap, because Cover 3 zone defenders who spot drop underneath the corner route can undercut the throw if the quarterback is late. User controlled defenders lurking near the shallow crosser can jump the route if the quarterback stares it down too long, so eyes need to manipulate that defender before committing. Disguised zone blitzes that bring extra rushers off the backside can collapse the pocket before the scissors routes fully develop, so identify hot blitz keys off the linebacker depth before the snap.
Usage Tips
Look for the scissors combo on the trips side first since the natural pick action forces man defenders to fight through traffic, giving the corner route separation against Cover 1 and Cover 3 man variants.
If the defense shows a two high shell pre-snap, expect the corner route to have a soft landing spot between the flat defender and the deep half safety, so throw with anticipation as the receiver crosses the numbers.
Use the backside go route as a window read against single high safeties who bite on the shallow crosser, since it forces the deep defender to choose.
Pair this play with Divide or Divide Special earlier in a series so the defense has to respect the same trips alignment before you hit them with the scissors traffic for explosive plays.
Best called on early downs or third and medium since the shallow crosser gives you a safety valve against blitz pressure if the scissors routes are covered.
