Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
DBL Stutter Go out of Strong I Close (21 personnel) shows two vertical stutter go routes from the outside receiver and the inline TE/slot X, both stemming upfield then stuttering before breaking back vertical to sell double moves on press corners. The FB runs a shallow crosser underneath from the backfield to the opposite flat as a checkdown or man beater against trailing linebackers, while the backside X runs a deep vertical seam up the numbers. This is a pure pass play (no play-action fake shown) designed to attack man coverage with double stutter go's on the perimeter, with the primary read starting on the single receiver deep vertical route, then working to the stutter go against the corner, and checking down to the FB crosser underneath if both are covered deep.
Defensive Reads
Read the corner alignment pre-snap, tight press man alignment on both outside receivers is the green light to call this play since the stutter move is designed to break their leverage. Check the safety shell before the snap, a single high safety with man coverage underneath is the ideal shell to attack since the deep vertical routes have no help over the top. Post-snap, watch for a lurking linebacker or nickel defender sitting in the shallow zone who can jump the FB crosser, this is the main defensive answer to this concept. Two high safety shells with zone coverage underneath shut this play down hard since both go routes get squeezed by the deep safeties and the stutter move has no defender to manipulate in zone drops. Watch the defensive line and second level for a delayed blitz timing, since if the FB is asked to release into his crosser without blocking, a blitzing linebacker or slot defender can get instant pressure on the quarterback before the double stutter go's develop downfield.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in shot situations when you have identified man coverage pre-snap since the double stutter go concept lives on freezing corners in man technique.
Bait the corner with the stutter before the vertical release, and if the DB bites on the stutter, throw the go route with anticipation on time rather than waiting for full separation.
Check the FB crosser as your answer against zone coverage or when you see a two high safety shell, since the stutter go routes lose value against soft zone drops.
Pair this play with Y Trail or PA Deep Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and underneath crossing concepts out of the same personnel and formation look.
Avoid calling this against aggressive zone blitz packages since the double vertical release gives blitzing linebackers a free run if the FB crosser is the only outlet and gets picked off at the mesh point.
