Playbooks

Deep In

Shotgun·Trips TE·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 21 playbooks

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Breakdown

Deep In is a route concept play out of Shotgun Trips TE 11 personnel built to attack the middle and deep intermediate zones. The trips side runs a combination of in breaking routes at varying depths to create a natural pick and sit down against zone coverage, while the backside receiver typically works a corner or dig to hold the safety. This is primarily a zone beater, though the deep in cuts can also stress man coverage if the defender is playing outside leverage. The primary read progression starts with the deepest in route on the trips side, then works down to the intermediate in, and checks down to the flat or backside option if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Check safety depth before the snap since a single high safety struggles to cover both deep in routes on the trips side, making this a strong Cover 3 beater Watch the flow of the linebackers after the snap because if they sink hard into the deep in lanes you need to check down to the flat or backside route immediately Identify Cover 2 corners jumping the underneath routes early since that leaves the deep in window open behind them for an explosive gain Be alert for a user controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field on Tampa 2 or Cover 4 looks, as this can jump the deep in throw if the quarterback holds it too long Man coverage with press corners can disrupt the timing of the in routes, so recognize man alignment pre-snap and be ready to hot route into a quicker breaking route instead

Usage Tips

Look for two high safety shells pre-snap since the deep in routes work best when the middle of the field is open against Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone drops

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you diagnose man coverage on the backside to give yourself a fast throw option away from the trips bunch

Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where you need a defender to bite on the underneath routes before the deep in sits down behind them

Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble earlier in a drive so the defense respects the quick game, making them soft on underneath coverage and opening the deep in window

Watch for user linebackers spying the middle of the field and be ready to layer the throw with touch so it clears the underneath zone but drops in before the deep safety can close