Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Comebacks In is a trips based passing concept out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that isolates the boundary WR on a comeback route while the trips side runs a deep in, a wheel, and a flat cut to stress the underneath defenders. The X receiver on the backside runs an out and up breaking comeback for a built-in hi-low against corners playing off coverage, while the trips side combo of a deep crossing in route and a wheel route creates a natural man beater against banjo coverage and a zone beater against Cover 3 flat defenders. The primary read progression starts with the boundary comeback route against soft coverage, then works to the deep in route breaking across the middle, and finishes with the wheel route working the sideline if the flat defender bites on the underneath crosser.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify if the corner over the trips is playing outside leverage which signals man coverage and opens the deep in route working inside Watch the flat defender post-snap since a hard flat drop or blitz creates a soft spot for the wheel route to exploit up the sideline Key the boundary corner depth at the snap because a hard press look signals man coverage that favors the comeback route timing on the break Identify Cover 3 zone shells by reading the deep middle defender since a single high safety rotation opens the deep in route as it crosses the field Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk spot underneath the deep in route which can jump the throw if the quarterback holds the ball too long
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap to identify two high shells since the comeback route on the backside is money against Cover 2 or Cover 4 corners playing off
Use motion if available to confirm man versus zone by watching if a defender follows the man in motion across the formation
Hot route the flat route to a shallow drag if you are facing heavy underneath zone drops to open up a quicker completion window
Pair this play with Comebacks or Seam Comebacks in the same set to keep the defense guessing on similar route concepts with different depth combinations
Best used on second and medium to second and long where the deep in route and wheel route have time to develop against off man or zone drops
Look to the wheel route as your alert versus blitz since the flat defender vacating to blitz creates an instant sideline win
