Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RNS Streak X Shallow is a trips concept out of Shotgun that pairs a deep vertical shot with an underneath crossing route to give the quarterback a full field high low read. The backside X runs a shallow cross underneath the trips side, the inside slot climbs the seam with a hitch break, the middle slot runs a streak, and the outside trips receiver takes the ball to the house on a pure streak. The lone running back stays in to check release and slide protect toward the trips side, which points to this being a standard drop back pass rather than a play-action or RPO look. Progression starts with the outside streak clearing the corner deep, works down to the shallow cross underneath as the checkdown against pressure or a soft zone drop.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify the safety shell first: single high alignment means the streaks on the trips side have a numbers advantage deep, while two high shells force the quarterback to work the shallow cross underneath instead. Watch the flat and hook defenders after the snap, since a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow cross window can jump the route and create a turnover if the quarterback stares it down. Cover 3 with a hard sink from the corner to the deep third is the toughest shell to beat here, because it takes away the outside streak and leaves the underneath crossers to be tracked by zone defenders. Man coverage without safety help over the top gets exposed by the double vertical release on the trips side, so look for blitzes paired with man coverage as the ideal beat for this concept. Bracket or double coverage on the outside streak, combined with a spy or hot defender sitting on the shallow cross, is the primary way disciplined defenses shut this play down.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and long when you need to test a defense that is showing single high safety because the double streak on the trips side stresses one deep defender to the sideline.
Check the corner alignment before the snap: if you see press man on the outside trips receiver, throw the streak on time before the corner can recover, since he has no help over the top in single high shells.
The shallow cross is your answer versus zone blitzes and pressure looks, so if you see linebackers walked up or a nickel crashing off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the X on the shallow.
Pair this with RNS Georgia Mesh or RNS Hitches in the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep shots and quick game answers, since both share similar trips alignment and initial route steps.
Motion or hot route the shallow route to a drag if you are facing heavy man coverage on the underneath defenders, since it gives you a natural rub against man beaters trailing the trips receivers.
