Playbooks
Z Under
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Z Under out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel gives you a five man route concept with a flood to the closed side and a shallow drag underneath. The backside receiver runs a deep out while the inline receiver clears vertically on a corner-style route, creating a two level stretch on that boundary. To the play side the TE runs a quick shallow cross under the seam route from the slot, while the RB releases out of the backfield on a shallow out into the flat, giving you a low to high flood read against zone drops. Primary progression starts with the seam route attacking the middle void, then works down to the TE drag and RB flat route as underneath zone beaters, with the backside deep out as a late window throw against man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a linebacker sitting in a hook zone or lurking on the shallow cross, if he sinks too fast the seam route behind him becomes wide open. Identify Cover 3 by a single deep safety and three deep thirds, this play beats it because the seam splits the deep middle defender before the underneath flood develops. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the backside deep out is where a user needs to jump the route early since it is a clear man beater against Cover 1 or Cover 0. Key the flat defender post snap, if he widens with the RB the TE drag will have a clean throwing lane behind him. Blitz heavy fronts that send extra rushers off the edge can disrupt this play since it relies on a moderate drop, so a user controlled spy or delayed blitz off the play side edge is the most effective way to shut it down before route concepts develop.
Usage Tips
Use this against Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells since the seam route splits the deep middle defender and the flood underneath punishes flat zone defenders who cannot cover both the drag and the flat route. Check safety depth pre snap, if you see two high safeties rotate your first read to the deep out on the backside since the middle will be more congested. Hot route the RB into a quicker flat release if you are facing an aggressive edge blitz to get the ball out fast off a three step drop. Pair this play with Four Verticals or Streaks in the same set to keep defenses honest on seam coverage after they start jumping the shallow drag. Best used on second and medium or third and short since the shallow cross and flat route give you easy access throws underneath the sticks.
