Playbooks
Breakdown
Inside Attack out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk is a quick game man beater built off the trips side with a slant flat combo underneath and a vertical clear out on top. The trips receivers run a slant, a flat route, and a go route to stretch the field vertically and horizontally, while the backside receiver from the two man side runs a shallow out to hold the boundary corner. The lone TE or slot defender to the closed side runs a curl, giving the quarterback a quick outlet if the trips concept is jumped, and the diagram shows no pulling linemen or play-action fakes, confirming this is a straight dropback quick pass designed to attack man coverage with immediate separation. Primary progression starts with the slant into the flat combo read on the trips side, then works back to the curl if the underneath defenders squeeze the slant.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap look for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the trips receivers, this play is designed to win against man and struggles against a sound zone shell. Watch the curl to backside linebacker depth, if he sits shallow he can jump the flat route and take away your quick answer. Identify any user controlled defender flashing down into the box before the snap, a disguised blitz will get the ball out fast to the flat or slant since there is minimal protection depth. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells the underneath defenders can sink and take away the slant flat combo, forcing you to rely on timing the curl or throwing the go route into a soft spot. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties, the go route on top will not create separation, so key the corner's outside leverage to decide between the flat and the curl as your primary outlets.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short when you expect man coverage since the slant flat combo creates a natural pick and rub against man defenders.
Check the box count and safety depth pre-snap, if you see two high safeties with off man corners the slant into the flat should come open almost immediately off the snap.
Hot route the go route receiver into a deep out if you are getting Cover 2 to avoid throwing into the deep half, since the vertical clear out has no purpose against a two deep shell.
Pair this play with Curls or Stick from the same Y Trips Wk set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath throws and deeper curl reads without changing your formation tendency.
Get the ball out on time to the flat or slant, this is not a play to hold and let develop since there is no protection help built in for extended drops.
