Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
TE Attack out of Shotgun Wing 12 personnel is a play-action four verticals shot play built off a flood concept. Both outside receivers run vertical seams up the field while the boundary receiver bends a corner route toward the sideline, and the tight end runs a deep crossing route from the strong side all the way across the field. Play-action draws the linebackers up, then the quarterback reads the deep cross first to see if it clears the middle before working to the seams and corner as a vertical flood, making this a strong Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the middle linebacker after the play-action fake, since a hard step toward the line of scrimmage confirms the run fake worked and the deep crossing tight end route will be wide open behind him. Key the cornerback over the boundary receiver running the corner route, since off man or soft zone leverage tells you that route wins immediately against Cover 2 or Cover 3 cushion technique. Identify any user-controlled safety lurking in the deep middle third, because a rover-style safety can jump the deep crossing tight end route and undercut it if the quarterback stares it down too long. Look for man coverage matchups on the seam routes against linebackers or slower defensive backs, since the seams will win vertically before the linebacker can turn and run. Recognize Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with deep safeties over the numbers, since that alignment can bracket both seam routes and force the quarterback down to the corner or the underneath check release.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when defenses expect run given the 12 personnel and play-action mesh point, since the fake will freeze linebackers and open passing lanes underneath.
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties tucked near the hash marks, since that usually signals Cover 2 and tells you the corner route is your primary answer against soft outside coverage.
If you see a single high safety walked into the middle of the field, that is Cover 3, and you should climb the progression from the deep crossing tight end route to the far seam since the flat and deep thirds will be stretched.
Hot route the running back into a check release or flat route if you are getting pressure up the middle, giving the quarterback an outlet without abandoning the shot play concept.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or Read Option from the same Wing formation to keep the defense honest on early downs, then dial up TE Attack once you see linebackers stepping up aggressively on run fakes.
