Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Y Mtn Bench Ins is a trips-based route concept out of Shotgun Wing Trips Wk Nasty, built to attack the field with three horizontal stems from the trips side while the backside receiver clears out on an in route. The two outside trips receivers run bench routes stacked at different depths (a deep bench from the X and a shorter bench from the slot), while the inner slot runs a corner-ish climb into the flat area, and the backside X runs an in route crossing the middle. The offensive line shows a standard pass protection look with no visible screen or play-action elements, making this a straight dropback passing concept designed to layer zone defenders horizontally and give the QB a high-low read against zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high look. Two high with soft zone drops is where this concept thrives because it stretches the horizontal seams. Key the flat defender and curl to flat defenders on the trips side. If they sit and read quarterback eyes instead of widening with the bench routes, the underneath window closes fast. Watch for a robber or spy sitting in the shallow middle zone. That defender directly threatens the backside in route and can bait a quarterback into a turnover if he jumps the throw late. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender flying toward the trips sideline. If the human player is patrolling the flat or bench route depth, the deep bench throw becomes risky and the quarterback should reset to the in route. Man coverage with press technique on the outside trips receivers is the best way to shut this down, since the stacked bench concept relies on zone defenders vacating landmarks rather than beating tight man leverage.
Usage Tips
Use this play against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 where the horizontal stretch on the trips side forces linebackers and safeties to pick a landmark and leave a window open.
Pre-snap, check the strength of the defense to the trips side. If the defense shows two high safeties with soft corners, target the shorter bench route in the flat for a quick, safe completion.
On third and medium, work the progression from the deep bench route to the shorter bench route, then check down to the in route crossing underneath if the trips side is jumped by a robber or lurking linebacker.
Pair this play with Y Mtn Drive or Y Mtn Flood earlier in a series so the defense sees the same trips look but has to guess whether the concept is attacking vertically or horizontally on the next snap.
Avoid calling this against man coverage with press corners unless you plan to hot route the shorter bench route into a quick out, since the stacked bench routes lack immediate separation off the line against tight man technique.
