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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
TE Out is a Singleback 12 personnel pass play built around quick horizontal breaking routes designed to attack the flat and intermediate zones. The primary route concept sends the tight end on an out route to the boundary while the backside receiver runs a complementary route to occupy the corner, giving the quarterback a clear rhythm throw against man or zone coverage. This is a zone beater at its core, exploiting soft spots in the underneath zones, though it can also work against man coverage if the TE wins his release against a linebacker or slower defender. The primary read progression starts with the TE out route, then works to the underneath crosser or checkdown option if the out is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker is sitting inside the box, since this signals a soft zone shell that the TE out route can exploit immediately. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, if the corner is playing off coverage with outside leverage he can undercut the TE out route and jump the throw for a user pick. Key on linebacker drops after the snap, a linebacker who sinks into a deep zone instead of covering the flat leaves the TE out route wide open for an easy completion. Cover 4 and match quarters coverage tend to shut this down since the flat defender stays disciplined and the safety can rotate down to help, so avoid forcing this throw into quarters shells. Watch for blitzes off the edge that overload the TE side protection, since a hot blitz can beat the TE off his release before he even breaks into the out route.
Usage Tips
Look for cover 2 or cover 3 shells pre-snap since the flat defender in those zones tends to sit deep or get pulled inside, opening a throwing lane to the TE out route.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or spot route if you see man coverage across the board, this gives you a faster developing option against man beaters and prevents your QB from holding the ball too long.
Use this play on second and short to second and medium situations where defenses expect run out of 12 personnel, the out route timing punishes defenses that sell out against the run.
Pair TE Out with HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive to set up run fits, then call TE Out once the defense starts creeping linebackers toward the box.
If facing a nano blitz or aggressive user blitz, get the ball out on rhythm to the TE since the route breaks fast and beats blitzes that do not get immediate pressure.
