Playbooks
Y Off Trips Close is a trips-based passing concept out of Shotgun that leans on a closing mesh action from the trips side to create natural rubs against man coverage while also giving zone beating depth on the backside. The Y (tight end) works a shallow crossing or closing route underneath while the outside trips receivers stack vertical and intermediate breaks to occupy zone defenders and clear space for the mesh. Primary read progression starts with the Y on the underneath close route against man leverage, then works to the intermediate trips breaker if linebackers sink into the throwing lane, finishing backside if the defense rotates two high and leaves a single receiver isolated.
Read the depth of the underneath linebackers at the snap, if they sink hard the close route from the Y will be crowded and you should look to the intermediate trips breaker instead Watch for a user controlled defender flashing into the mesh point, that is the biggest threat to this concept and usually signals man coverage with a lurking linebacker Identify two high safety shells before the snap, against zone the quarterback should target the void between the flat defender and the deep half rather than forcing the mesh Man coverage with no safety help over the trips side is where this play wins most consistently since the closing route creates natural separation off the rub Blitz heavy fronts with single high safety can be exploited if the backside receiver is left in a true one on one, but the quarterback must throw with anticipation before the pocket collapses
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot defender over the trips side, if he is playing tight man technique the Y close route will win quickly off the rub
Use motion or a hard play fake if available to bait linebackers before committing to the mesh read, this slows down user linebacker spies
Against zone shells, look to sit the intermediate route in the soft spot behind the underneath defenders and in front of the deep safety
This play pairs well with Pats Cross and Jets Crosses in the same set since both create similar horizontal stress, forcing the defense to guess between mesh and cross concepts on back to back snaps
Best used on second and medium or third and short since the quick underneath read allows for a fast release before pressure arrives
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, hot route the backside single receiver into a quick out or slant to have a built in answer against man pressure