Playbooks

Cheat Clearout Seam

Shotgun·Trips TE·11
SeamMotionPass Play
Play diagram for Cheat Clearout Seam from Shotgun Trips TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 7 playbooks

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Breakdown

Cheat Clearout Seam is a man beater out of Shotgun Trips TE that uses a clearout concept to isolate the middle of the field. The X receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers to clear out the cornerback, the inside slot receiver bends a corner route from the boundary, and the third trips receiver breaks off an inside seam that sits right behind the underneath linebackers, while the backside TE and RB run a two man flat and vertical combo away from the trips side. The primary read is the seam route, since the clearout up top drags man defenders and safeties away from the middle of the field, giving the QB a window to hit the seam before working to the corner route or backside flat as checkdowns.

Defensive Reads

Key the free safety at the snap, if he bites on the deep clearout route the seam will be wide open behind the linebackers. Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, shallow linebackers get beat easily by the seam route since they cannot both cover the flat and drop deep enough. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells since the seam route sits in the natural void between the deep third defenders and the underneath zone or man defenders. User the middle linebacker as a lurk defender to sit on the seam route and force the quarterback to hold the ball and check down to the flat or corner route. Press man coverage on the trips receivers with safety help over the top can shut this play down since it disrupts the timing of the clearout and forces the seam route into contact.

Usage Tips

Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the deep clearout route occupies the free safety and opens up the seam behind the linebackers.

Use motion on the trips side to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man you know you are getting man coverage and the seam becomes even more dangerous.

Hot route the backside TE into a shallow drag if you are facing zone heavy defenses that sink linebackers under the seam route.

Best called on second and medium to second and long where defenses are more likely to play off zone shells that this play exploits with the vertical clearout.

Pair this play with Verticals or China Y Post from the same set to keep defenses honest, then come back to Cheat Clearout Seam once the defense starts cheating toward shorter combo routes.

Other Plays in Trips TE