DIAGRAM 1: Vs. 3-Deep Zone. This play works well against a 3-deep zone coverage. Put twin receivers to one side of the offensive formation and a split end on the opposite side. Generally, the strong corner calls for help from the safety against a twins look. Flank a back away from the twins. Send all three receivers deep. This takes care of both corners and the safety. The flanked back has a clear, undefended lane on a fly route. The quarterback dive-fakes to the fullback to freeze the LBs who have started to drop back into coverage with the three receivers going deep. The QB opens to the twins side, which makes the safety commit to the double-vertical threat. The flanker can hesitate a second before sprinting to an open lane down the field. This gives the flanker a second to read the move of the outside LB. If the OLB has flat coverage, the flanker runs right by him. If the OLB plays man coverage, typically the OLB cannot turn fast enough to cover the sprinting flanker.
DIAGRAM 2: Vs. Cover 2. This play also works against a Cover 2. Most of the dynamics are the same. Send the twins on a deep route down the field. The split end on the opposite side begins a deep route. The flanking end sprints down the field but this time is met by a safety. The other safety is in coverage against the twin receivers, especially if your QB opens to that side again. Before opening to the twins side, the QB again executes a fake handoff to the FB to freeze the LBs. With the safety covering the flanking end, the split end has an open area of the field to attack after breaking off his deep route about 8 yards into it. The QB hits the open split end who now has most of the field in front of him. It’s going to come down to the corners and the safeties to corral him, which isn’t going to be easy if you preach down-field blocking by your receivers. The only person left to catch the split end is the middle LB — and your split end should be faster than him, otherwise, he shouldn’t be your split end.
—Ray Baranczyk, Football Coach,
Roncalli High School, Manitowoc, Wis.