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Breakdown
61 X Choice out of Shotgun Trips is a pass play built around an option route from the backside X receiver, isolated one on one at the bottom of the diagram. The trips side runs a vertical stretch with the two outside receivers pushing straight up the field on go routes while the inside slot runs an out breaking route toward the sideline, occupying underneath zone defenders and clearing space. The backside X choice route is the primary read, since it lets the receiver break in, out, or vertical based on the leverage of the man defending him, making this an effective man beater against isolated coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside cornerback's alignment before the snap, tight press alignment signals man coverage that the choice route is designed to defeat. Post-snap, key the corner's hips and leverage, if he opens outside the receiver should break inside, if he sits inside the break goes outside. Identify any user controlled defender lurking underneath on the trips side, since a low, sinking zone defender can undercut the slot out route. Cover 3 or Cover 1 with no help over the isolated X receiver is where this route wins most consistently. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with a safety rotating over the top of the backside X can shut this down, so be ready to check to a trips side concept if you see two high safeties holding depth.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check whether the defense is showing single high or two high safety shell to confirm if the X receiver is truly isolated on an island.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top on the backside, throw the choice route with anticipation as soon as the receiver breaks off his stem.
Use the trips side vertical routes to hold the safety and any zone defenders, which opens up the choice route against soft coverage or a slow closing corner.
Combine this play with Four Verticals or 60 Go from the same set to keep the defense honest on shell rotation, then come back to X Choice when you see the corner sitting on outside breaking routes.
Best used on second and medium or third and short since the choice route gives the receiver the ability to settle in front of the sticks against zone or break away from a trailing man defender.
