Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Shoot out of Singleback Trio is a quick game concept built to get the ball out of the quarterback's hands in a hurry. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback while the three receivers to the trips side work a slant flat, a hitch, and a flat route from the inline tight end, with the tight end at the line releasing outside for the shoot flat. This is a man beater and Cover 3 beater designed off high low leverage: the primary read is the flat route underneath, working back to the slant sitting behind it, with the comeback as a backside alert against soft corners.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender's initial step at the snap, if he sinks with the slant route the flat is wide open for an easy completion. Cover 3 with zone drop linebackers is vulnerable here because the underneath defenders cannot cover both the flat and the slant flat route simultaneously. Man coverage with an outside corner playing off leverage on the flat route allows the receiver to separate immediately for a chunk gain. If the defense shows a hard blitz with the slot defender crashing downhill, the shoot route to the tight end can get eaten quickly, so be ready to check the ball down. Press man on the backside receiver running the comeback signals a lurk threat from a deep safety, so avoid forcing that throw and stick to the trips side concept.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify whether the corner over the flat route is playing outside leverage or sitting in a hard trail technique, since that tells you if the flat route or slant is open first.
Use this on third and short or in the red zone when you need a rhythm throw that beats blitz because the ball comes out on time before pressure arrives.
If you see Cover 3 or zone drop shells with linebackers sinking, throw the flat route immediately since the underneath defender cannot cover the width of the field.
Pair this with Slants or Spot from the same set so the defense has to respect both the quick flat concept and the deeper crossing patterns, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their drops.
Hot route the backside comeback into a quicker hitch if you are facing press man corners who like to jump underneath routes.
