Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
TE Attack out of Singleback Wing Tight Z is a flood concept built to overload one side of the field with three vertical stems stacked at different depths. The outside receiver runs a go route straight up the boundary, the slot runs a deep out that breaks toward the sideline off the go route, and the tight end works a drag underneath from the backfield alignment across the formation. On the backside, the wing runs a corner route while the running back releases to the flat, giving the quarterback a two-way high-low read if the play side gets taken away. This is a route concept built to beat both man and zone coverage, with Cover 3 and Cover 2 shells listed as primary defeats. The progression starts with the deep out working against the flat defender, then works down to the drag as the underneath checkdown, and can flip backside to the corner route if the defense rotates hard to the trips side.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties pre-snap as a Cover 2 indicator, which opens the deep out throwing window over the flat defender. Identify a single deep safety as a Cover 3 shell, which means the deep out and go route are compressed into a smaller window and the drag becomes the higher percentage throw. Watch the flat or curl defender post-snap since his depth and width dictate whether the deep out or drag is open first. Man coverage shows up if the slot defender mirrors the deep out route step for step instead of sitting in a zone drop, which favors the drag or corner route working away from leverage. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow drag lane since that lurk threat can bait a turnover if the quarterback stares down the underneath route too long. A hard blitz with man coverage behind it is best answered by getting the ball out quickly on the drag or checking the running back into a hot route in the flat.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap. Two deep safeties splitting the field evenly signals Cover 2, which lets you attack the deep out route in the void behind the corner and in front of the safety. A single high safety means Cover 3 is likely, so key the flat defender and throw the drag or out based on his leverage. Use the go route as a clear out to open the deep out for the slot receiver against zone drops. Hot route the running back to a check release if you expect pressure, since the flat route is not always necessary for the flood read to work. Pair this play with Curl Flat or Curl Flat Seam from the same set to keep the defense guessing between flood concepts and curl based concepts that attack similar areas of the field differently. On third and medium, lean on the deep out as your primary answer since it sits in soft spots of both zone shells. Against man coverage, watch for the drag to create natural rub traffic near the formation, which helps separate against tight man coverage from linebackers or slot corners.
