Playbooks
Texan Deep In
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Texan Deep In comes out of Shotgun Trips TE with play-action mixed in, showing a flood concept to the trips side and a deep in from the backside X. The three receivers on the strong side run a seam, a deep dig/in, and a go route stacked vertically to overload one half of the field, while the backside X runs a deep in that settles across the middle and the RB releases to the flat on a check release. The primary read starts with the deep dig sitting down against Cover 3 or Cover 4, then works up to the seam or go route if the underneath defender widens with the flat route.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high look, this dictates whether the go route or the deep in becomes your first read. Watch the flat defender and underneath zone droppers, if they widen with the RB's release the deep in and seam routes will have soft grass to work with against Cover 3. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the seam and go route combo, look for the corner's hip turn at the snap to confirm man. User-controlled defenders sitting in a deep middle lurk can undercut the deep in, so be ready to climb the ladder to the go route if you see a defender sink into that throwing lane. Disguised zone blitzes that bring five rushers can beat this play if the RB is not checked into a block, so identify extra rushers creeping toward the line before the snap.
Usage Tips
Use this on second or third and medium to long when you have room to let the deep in and dig fully develop against zone drops.
Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties tell you this is a strong Cover 4 or Cover 2 beater with the go route stretching the corner vertically.
If the defense shows single high Cover 3, key the flow of the underneath linebacker, the deep in from the trips side will settle in the soft spot behind him.
Hot route the RB to a quick flat or check him into a block if you are getting pressure off the edge on the play-action look.
Pair this with Deep In or X Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep in-breaking routes and shorter option routes off similar formation looks.
