Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
DBL Outs from Strong I Close (21 personnel) is a quick-hitting pass concept built around a double out route combo to the boundary side while the backside runs a deep dig-crosser and a flat route provides an outlet underneath. The X receiver runs a shallow drag turned upfield into a corner-breaking route toward the sideline, the slot or TE runs a shorter out at the sticks, and the deep receiver on the strong side breaks in on a deep dig across the middle after stemming vertically. This is a zone beater at its core, using the double out concept to stretch cornerbacks horizontally and settle into the soft spots of Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops, with the primary read progressing from the underneath flat route to the short out and finally to the deep crossing dig if the defense sinks its zones.
Defensive Reads
Read the cornerback depth at the snap, if he is sitting at five to seven yards in a zone drop he is baiting the out route so hold the throw and look to the deep dig instead. Watch for user linebackers sitting in the shallow flat or hook zone, since a user lurking underneath can jump the short out route and take it for a pick six. Identify Cover 3 by the single high safety alignment, this shell leaves the deep dig vulnerable if the safety bites on the strong side out route. Against man coverage, key the corner's press alignment, if he is playing tight man the double out combo struggles and you should hot route to a slant or check the flat route immediately. Watch linebacker blitz timing on third down, since a delayed inside blitz can be picked up by the fullback or halfback stepping up before the out routes develop.
Usage Tips
Attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells since the double out combo is designed to sit in the honeycomb gaps between the corner and safety zone drops.
Pre-snap, check if the cornerback is playing off man or bailing into a zone drop, if he sits flat footed at the snap you are likely facing zone and the outs will open up quickly.
Hot route the flat back into a flat or option route against man coverage looks to give yourself a quick answer versus blitzes.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short situations since the out routes hit at a depth that consistently moves the chains.
Pair this with PA Curls or Mesh Post in your play calling sequence, since those plays punish teams sitting hard on the underneath outs by attacking vertically over the top.
