Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Four Verticals out of Singleback Y Trips TE Slot sends four receivers vertically to stretch the field horizontally and vertically, with the backside X running a solo go route and the trips side stacking a deep out breaking route, two seam splitting verticals, and an outside go route. The lone HB stays in to block, checking the middle protection while the QB reads the field from a five step drop. This is a classic zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep zones with more verticals than the safeties can cover, and the primary read progresses from the seam routes inside out, hitting the open window between the hashes before working to the outside go routes.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety depth and width pre-snap, if both safeties are shaded deep and outside the numbers the seam routes will be wide open in the middle of the field. Identify Cover 3 by looking for a single high safety with corners playing off, this leaves the seams and one go route in a soft spot the underneath defenders cannot reach. Key on the middle linebacker's drop after the snap, if he sinks too deep into a hook zone the shallow window over the middle disappears but the vertical stems stay live. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells where two deep safeties can each account for a vertical threat, and it dies against a disguised Cover 1 with a lurking robber defender sitting in the throwing lane. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the outside go routes, so check for blitz packages that leave a corner isolated without deep support before committing to the outside read.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two deep safeties split wide with a linebacker sitting in the middle hook zone, target the seam routes running up the pipe between them. Against single high looks, work the backside go route or the far outside vertical since the corner is often isolated without safety help over the top. Use the hot route to slide the HB out as a checkdown if the defense brings pressure, since he is your only outlet against a blitz look. This play pairs well with Slot Drive or Curl Combo out of the same set, since those shorter concepts hold linebackers and safeties in the box, opening up the verticals on a follow up call. Save this for third and long or two minute situations where you need explosive plays and are willing to trade sack risk for a shot down the field.
