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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
TE Whip out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Close is a trips-based pass play built to attack the flat and hi-lo a defense horizontally. From the trips side, the inside receiver runs a whip route (the red route) that snaps outside then settles back underneath, while the outside trips receiver clears vertically before breaking back to the sideline. The backside single receiver runs a deep comeback/out to hold the corner, and the two remaining trips receivers stem upfield before turning back to create a two-level read on that side. The primary read starts with the whip route underneath since it is the built-in man beater against off coverage or a blitzing defender, then progresses outside to the deep comeback if the whip is covered.
Defensive Reads
Identify the corner leverage on the trips side before the snap, tight outside leverage invites the whip route to break open immediately underneath. Watch the flat defender or curl/flat zone player post-snap, if he sinks too deep the whip route sits in the void for an easy completion. Key the single high safety, single high shells (Cover 1 or Cover 3) leave the whip route vulnerable since there is no true flat defender help against trips. User the nickel or slot corner over the whip route if you are on defense, this route dies against a physical jam that disrupts the timing of the break. Watch for a lurking linebacker sitting in the shallow curl zone, this is the primary defender who can jump the whip route reads and bait a turnover.
Usage Tips
Use this on third and short to medium since the whip route is designed to get instant separation underneath against man coverage.
Check pre-snap for off man or press man corners on the trips side, this is where the whip route thrives because it exploits cushion with a quick out and in break.
If the defense shows two deep safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell), progress your eyes to the backside comeback route since the trips side flat defender can sit on the whip.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick slant or hitch if you see a corner blitz off the edge to give yourself a fast throwing lane.
Pair this play with Whip Dig or Pats Y Out from the same set so defenders keying the whip route in film study get crossed up by different second-level breaks off the same initial stem.
