Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Scat is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset that stresses defenses vertically on the boundary while working an underneath option route away from the trips side. The backside receiver runs a vertical release into a corner route while the slot underneath him breaks off a quick out to the flat, and the boundary corner attached to the formation runs a sharp option or dig route as the built in man beater. On the trips side the receivers stem vertical up the numbers and one climbs into a deep comeback along the sideline, giving the quarterback a full field stretch. The primary read progression starts with the option route underneath against man leverage, then works to the corner route on the backside if the defense rolls coverage away, finishing with the deep comeback on the trips side as a last resort shot play.
Defensive Reads
Check the safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety opens up the backside corner route while two deep safeties will bracket that route and force the option underneath. Watch cornerback press alignment on the option route runner, because soft press or off man coverage gives him an easy break for the option read while hard press can disrupt the timing entirely. Key the flat defender or nickel corner over the option route, as a defender sitting at a shallow depth signals zone coverage and tells you to hot route that route into a speed out or dig. Identify Cover 3 by reading the deep third defender's leverage on the backside corner route, since a defender staying flat footed in the deep third will erase that route and force you to check down. Watch for a blitz off the weak side edge, since Scat's protection can be exposed by a nano blitz look if the offensive line slides toward the trips side and leaves the backside tackle isolated.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the corners to confirm man coverage before locking onto the option route, since that route only wins with clean separation on press or trail technique.
Take the corner route on the backside vertical stem against single high safety looks, especially when facing Cover 1 or Cover 3 where the deep third defender has to respect the flat route first.
Save the deep comeback on the trips side for third and long or two minute situations, as it takes time to develop and needs a clean pocket to fully break.
Pair Scat with Curl Combo or Levels Sail from the same set so the defense has to respect both quick option concepts and deeper double move routes, keeping linebackers and safeties honest.
Hot route the option runner into a speed out if you see a linebacker sitting in a shallow zone drop underneath, turning a man beater into a quick zone beater against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells.
