Playbooks
Deep ln
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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Deep In is a play-action dagger concept out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Wk with 11 personnel. Off the run fake, the backside X runs a deep in/dig across the middle while the trio side stacks a go route up top from the slot, an out breaking into the boundary from the flanker, and the inline TE working a shallow drag underneath as a checkdown against blitz. The lone receiver to the closed side runs a corner/deep cross that clears out and threatens the flat defender before working back across the field, giving you a true dagger shot combined with a cover 3 and cover 4 beater. Primary read starts with the deep in/dig sitting down in the void behind linebackers and in front of safeties, then progresses to the go route clearing vertically before checking down to the TE drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify safety depth and spacing, two safeties deep and outside the numbers signals cover 4 which the dig and go combo attacks by stretching the seam defender vertically. Watch the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks with the dig route and stays square it can bait your quarterback into a tighter window, so track his eyes and hip turn before pulling the trigger. Man coverage with a single high safety is the toughest matchup for this concept since the in-breaking route has no natural pick or rub to separate from a trailing corner or nickel defender. Key the flat defender on the corner/deep cross side, if he sits and jumps the flat the deep cross behind him becomes wide open as the crosser clears the shallow zone. Beware disguised zone blitzes where the underneath defenders drop late, since the TE drag and dig routes cross through the same shallow-to-intermediate area and a lurking defender can undercut both throws.
Usage Tips
Look for two high safeties pre-snap to confirm cover 4 or cover 2 shell before snapping since the dig sitting behind the linebackers exploits that middle void perfectly.
If you see single high safety alignment, prioritize the deep in over the middle since cover 3 defenders in the deep middle third often widen with the go route and open the window for the dig to settle.
Hot route the TE drag into a flat route or check him down quickly on blitz-heavy calls, this gives you an outlet against nano blitzes without abandoning the play design.
Pair this play with Deep Out or Curls Combo from the same set to keep defenders guessing between in-breaking and out-breaking concepts off identical formation and motion.
Use on second and long or third and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, since the play struggles against aggressive man press with underneath robber support.
