Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
DBL Outs is a route concept out of Singleback Wing Close 12 personnel that sends both receiving TEs and the outside receiver flooding to the same side with out breaking routes at different depths, while the RB runs a shallow out and up the boundary to the opposite side as a checkdown or backside beater. The two TEs stack their release before breaking outward at staggered depths, creating a natural pick and high low horizontal stretch on the sideline. This is a man beater first and foremost since the crossing releases and staggered out breaks create natural rubs and separation against man defenders, though it also stresses the flat and curl zones of a zone shell. Primary read progression starts with the shortest out route underneath, moves to the deeper out breaking route if the shallow defender jumps the route, and checks down to the backside out and up if both are blanketed.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties versus single high, since two high alignments usually mean the corners are sinking into zone drops that can undercut the shallow out route. Watch the slot defender or overhang linebacker depth at the snap, if he sprints to the flat immediately he is jumping the short out and you should look to the deeper TE out breaking route behind him. User the underneath linebacker or slot corner and sit on the shallow out route to bait the quarterback into an early throw, then close hard on the route before the receiver can turn upfield. This concept struggles against a hard press man call combined with a robber safety sitting in the middle of the field, since the picks lose value and the backside out and up becomes the only clean option. Cover 3 with a fast flat defender who stays disciplined and does not bite on the first out route will collapse this concept, so bait that read with pump fakes to force a bite before working the deeper route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium or third and short to medium where the out routes have a realistic chance to convert the down. Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot corner or overhang defender since a tight press alignment signals man coverage and makes the natural rub between the two TE outs extremely difficult to cover. If you see two high safeties with the corners playing outside leverage, that is a zone shell and you should trust the underlying out route sitting in the flat before the deeper route runs into the sideline defender. Hot route the backside out and up receiver to a quick option or slant if you are getting pressure off the backside edge, since the backside route takes time to develop. Pair this play in your call sheet with Mtn PA Z Slide or PA Cross from the same Wing Close set so the defense has to respect both the quick out breaking game and the play action shots off similar formation and personnel.
