Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Deep Hitch Over is a trips-based passing concept out of Singleback Trips with 11 personnel that stresses zone coverage vertically and horizontally. The backside X runs a deep vertical clear-out while the trips side stacks a shallow flat route under a deep corner-breaking route and a middle seam read that works into a crossing pattern over the middle. The primary read progression starts with the seam/crosser working over the ball, then works out to the deep corner route on the trips side, with the flat route as a checkdown against soft zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check safety depth and alignment since a two high shell signals this concept has room to work the deep corner and crosser against zone drops. Watch the flat defender at the snap because if he sinks with the crosser instead of the flat route it opens a passing lane underneath. Key the middle linebacker or hook defender since a shallow drop lets the crosser sit in a soft window over the middle for an easy completion. If the cornerback on the deep corner route bails immediately into a deep zone drop, expect the quarterback to come off that route and look to the shallow flat or crosser. Man coverage with no safety help over the top can shut this down quickly since the deep clear out route will occupy a defender and remove any true deep threat opposite the trips.
Usage Tips
Look for two high safeties pre snap since this concept is built to attack zone shells like Cover 3 and Cover 4 rather than tight man coverage.
Use motion pre snap to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Hot route the backside X into a shorter route on obvious passing downs if the deep clear out route is not needed to open up the middle of the field.
Progress from the crosser to the deep corner route quickly since holding the ball too long lets underneath zone defenders drop into passing lanes.
Pair this play with Curl Combo or Stick from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and deeper zone-clearing concepts.
