Playbooks
Slot 2 Buc
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot 2 Buc is a play-action flood concept out of Shotgun Trips Y-Flex that attacks the field with a four verticals and Corner combination. The backside X runs a deep go while the three trips receivers stack the boundary with a corner route, a curl sitting underneath, and a flat route from the inline TE, and the RB releases on a shallow flat drag to the opposite side after the play-action fake. The primary read progression starts with the deep Corner route against Cover 2 or Cover 3, works down to the curl sitting in the void, and checks off to the flat or drag if the underneath defenders sink to take away the intermediate windows.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 3 with a deep middle safety, since the Corner route from trips will sit in the natural void between the cornerback and safety. Watch for Cover 2 shells where both safeties are split wide, this play's Corner route is designed to split the seam between the corner and safety rotation. Post-snap, key the flat defender: if he sinks with the curl route instead of jumping the flat, the RB drag underneath becomes wide open. Beware of Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with press corners, since the deep Go route on the backside can get squeezed by a defender who has outside leverage help. Watch for a user linebacker sitting in the shallow zone or spying the middle, as he can undercut the curl route and jump the throwing lane if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more likely to sit in a two high shell, since the Corner route and Go route stress both safeties vertically. Check the pre-snap safety alignment: if you see two high safeties cheating toward the trips side, take the backside Go route for a one on one shot against the single cornerback. Hot route the RB into a quicker flat or check him down as a safety valve versus disguised blitzes since he is the last read in the progression. Pair this play with Four Verticals and Corner Strike from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and flood concepts without changing your formation tendencies. Look to call this on second and long or in two minute situations where the deep Corner route can pick up a big chunk gain against soft zone coverage.
