Playbooks
Overview
Trips Y-Flex is Shotgun's 11 personnel trips look that flexes the tight end out of the core and onto the field as a true receiving threat, which is the key separator from standard Trips or Trips TE alignments. You get three receivers bunched to one side with the flexed Y aligned in the slot or as the number two, a single X isolated backside, and the back set next to the quarterback. Because the tight end is detached rather than attached, defenses can no longer treat this as a run-first alignment, and base personnel on the field means you are usually getting a linebacker or a big nickel body matched on the Y in space.
The alignment forces the defense to declare its strength pre-snap. If the coverage rotates to the trips side, the backside X is isolated in a one on one with a boundary corner and no help over the top, which is exactly what Corner Strike, WR Fork, and the single side of Four Verticals are built to punish. If the defense stays balanced and plays true quarters or Cover 3, the trips side floods overload the flat to curl to seam levels with Strong Flood, Strong Flood X-Cross, Curls, and Hi Lo Dig. Slot 2 Buc and Stick N Nod give you the double move layer off those tendencies once the defender starts jumping the shallow.
The run and screen game keeps the set honest. Inside Zone, Mid Zone, HB Off Tackle, and Read Option let you run into a light box created by the flexed Y, while HB Mid Draw and HB Slip Screen punish aggressive user blitzers and edge pressure. PA WR In and PA Switch Dig sell the zone action off that run identity, and Dagger PoCo plus Go DBL Post give you the deep shot package when the safety starts squatting on the intermediate dig and curl levels.
Strengths
- Backside X isolation on Corner Strike, WR Fork, and Four Verticals creates a clean one on one read when the defense rotates coverage strength to the trips side, and you can hot route the X to a fade or slant based on the corner's leverage
- Strong Flood and Strong Flood X-Cross stress Cover 3 and Cover 2 by flooding three levels to one side, with the flat route pulling the curl defender and opening the intermediate window behind him
- Hi Lo Dig, Curls, and Dagger PoCo are high percentage zone beaters that sit receivers in the soft spots between the hook defenders and the deep shell, ideal against user zone players who overcommit to one side
- Man beaters are built in: Stick N Nod, Slot 2 Buc, and PA Switch Dig all use double moves or crossing action that break man defenders' leverage, and the flexed Y usually draws a linebacker in space
- The flexed tight end lightens the box for Inside Zone, Mid Zone, and Read Option, and HB Slip Screen plus HB Mid Draw punish teams that sell out on pressure
Weaknesses
- Five wide spacing with only the back in protection means edge pressure and A gap nano blitzes get home fast, especially on Four Verticals, Go DBL Post, and Dagger PoCo where the routes need time to develop
- Heavy trips distribution telegraphs your read side, and a user defender parked on the number two or number three receiver takes away Stick, Curls, and Strong Flood before the quarterback can work through the progression
- The isolated X is a liability against press man if your boundary receiver does not win at the line, and a cloud corner with safety help erases the whole backside concept
- Run game is limited to zone and Read Option concepts out of a light formation, so committing to Inside Zone or HB Off Tackle in short yardage against a loaded box is a losing proposition
- Play action calls like PA WR In and PA Switch Dig take too long to develop against sim blitzes and user edge rushers if you have not established the run first
Usage Tips
Read the safety shell pre-snap. Single high with rotation to trips means go backside with Corner Strike or the outside vertical on Four Verticals. Two high balanced means work the trips flood with Strong Flood or Hi Lo Dig
Motion the trips side inside receiver across the formation to diagnose man versus zone, then audible to Stick or Slot 2 Buc against man and Curls or Dagger PoCo against zone
Hot route the back to a flat or block based on the pressure look. Keeping him in gives you time for Go DBL Post, releasing him gives you a quick outlet against nano blitzes
Use HB Slip Screen and HB Mid Draw after two or three consecutive dropbacks to punish opponents who start crashing the edges and vacating the middle of the field
On third and medium, Stick N Nod and WR Smash give you the sticks route plus the over the top shot, and you can block the tight end if you are getting beaten inside
Establish Inside Zone and Mid Zone early against light boxes so PA WR In and PA Switch Dig hold the second level defenders later in the game
Plays (22)
- Corner StrikeCorner, Pass Play, Flat +1
CurlsCurl, Pass Play, Out +2
Dagger PoCoPost Corner, Dagger, Pass Play +5
Four VerticalsFour Verts, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +6
Go DBL PostPost, Go, Double Posts +6
HB Mid DrawDraw, Run Play
HB Off TackleOff Tackle, Run Play
HB Slip ScreenScreen Pass, Hb Screen, Pass Play +5
Hi Lo DigDig, Pass Play, Corner +2
Inside AttackPass Play, Quick Pass, Slant +11
Inside ZoneInside Zone, Run Play, Zone Run- Mid ZoneRun Play
PA Switch DigPlay Action, Dig, Pass Play +3
PA WR InPlay Action, Pass Play, Post +4
Read OptionRead Option, Run Play
Slot 2 BucPass Play, Flood, Corner +10
StickStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play +3- Stick N NodStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play +2
Strong FloodFlood, Pass Play, Cover 3 Beater
Strong Flood X-CrossFlood, Pass Play, Cover 3 Beater +5
WR ForkPass Play, Out, Go +6
WR SmashSmash, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +5
