Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
H Replace out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close is a quick-hitting man beater built around a slant flat combo to the trips side. The inside slot runs a hard slant into the middle of the field while the outside receiver on that side runs a go route to clear the corner and take the top off, and the tight slot receiver replaces the vacated flat area with a quick out to the flat. Backside, the single receiver runs a streak to hold the deep defender honest, and the primary read progression is flat to slant, working from the replace route in the flat first before climbing to the slant if the flat defender squats.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with corners aligned tight on the trips receivers, since this play is designed to exploit man matchups with the slant flat combo. Watch the linebacker depth over the slot receivers: shallow linebackers will jump the flat replace route immediately, so be ready to climb to the slant behind them. Post-snap, key the flat defender's first two steps: if he sinks toward the slant, the flat route replace is wide open for an easy completion. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with a deep half or deep third defender can take away the go route, but they often leave the flat and slant window exposed underneath. Beware of user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone or spying the slant, since a disciplined user can jump the inside route and turn it into a turnover if you force the throw.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage looks where you see the corner pressed on the trips side, since the go route occupies the deep defender and opens the slant flat window underneath.
Check the flat defender pre-snap: if you see a linebacker walked out over the slot, hot route the flat replace to a quick out or speed out to win before he can react.
This play shines on third and short or second and medium, giving you a rhythm throw to the flat with the slant as your immediate progression if the underneath defender jumps the route.
Pair this with 61 X Choice or RNS Georgia Mesh from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and mesh concepts, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits and short zone drops.
Against zone coverage, look off the flat throw and travel with the go route on the backside streak if a single high safety bites on the underneath routes, since the streak can hit for a big play if the corner sits in a soft zone.
