Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Slot Swing out of Shotgun Trips TE (11 personnel) shows a two-man route combo to the trips side plus a vertical release from the isolated receiver. The inside slot receiver runs a swing route out to the flat (red route) while the two outside trips receivers climb vertically, breaking outward on deep out cuts. The backside iso receiver runs a straight vertical seam to hold the safety. This is a swing-based zone beater designed to attack the flat and horizontal stretch defenders, with the primary read starting on the swing route as the first option before working up to the deep outs if the flat defender squats.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key the flat defender assigned to the trips side, whether it is a linebacker or slot corner, since his depth tells you if the swing route will be open immediately. Watch for Cover 3 sky or cloud shells, as the flat defender in these coverages often gets caught flat-footed by the swing route's horizontal stretch. If the defense shows Cover 2 with corners playing press, expect the deep outs to be contested, so lean on the swing route as your safety valve. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flashing down toward the swing route, since a smart user will rob the flat and force you to progress to the deep out combo. Beware of Cover 4 match or pattern-match man concepts where linebackers carry the swing route man to man, which can shut down the easy completion and force a tougher read on the outs.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or in 3rd and short to medium situations where defenses expect run out of trips formations. Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing zone with off corners, since the swing route will be wide open against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells that flow slow to the flat. If you see man coverage with a linebacker or safety walked down over the slot, hot route the swing man to a quick option route to counter man leverage. Pair this play with RPO Zone Alert Bubble and Slot Quick Flat from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick flat throws and this swing concept, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits. Against aggressive blitz looks, check to the swing route immediately since it acts as a built-in hot route against pressure. Sequence this after running Inside Zone or HB Counter from the same personnel to set up defenders biting on run action, opening up the swing lane.
