““3”

3” Route Directory

“3” Route Directory

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Base Route
INTRODUCTION/PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTIONAL
“YOU DRAW IT”

VIDEO 1 VIDEO 2

VIDEO 3 VIDEO 4

Main Summary
Menu Table
 3 Route:
“Corner”
3
Philosoph
y

•The “Corner” concept is a very “high-class” tool we have

to attack 2-safety looks, Man coverages, and Cover 3
cornerbacks who get nosy! It is one of the primary ways we
have to get the ball to outside receivers at a deeper depth!
•The basic thought behind the play is to occupy any flat
defender with an “Arrow Settle,” use a Switched, vertical
release to attack the cornerback, and break a man outside
him just as he turns his hips to trail defend the man that
originally attacked him!

•The 3 route is a good way to break down aggressive cornerbacks, and can be used to
strike quickly from the Red Zone, convert long 3rd downs, or open up the Arrow route
very effectively on 3rd and medium to short!

KEYS to a successful play:

•Great release by the middle receiver: He must avoid collisions to TAGS/VARIATIONS
stay “ahead” of the Corner route, and attract the CB’s attention!
Swap (v. Jams on Middle rec)
•Timing and angle of the break by the Corner route, who must not •FS adjustment to 50 series
get too far down inside.
•PATIENCE by the QB to let this open up and clear vision of the
target area!
- t o M A I N D I R E C T O R Y -- t o I N S T R U C T I O N A L -
 3 ROUTE: CORNER
3 b. M: If you get jammed/behind Corner, 3
Instructio
nal

forget the break, hit the jets, clear out!

## S S S
2 b. WRONG! Must get
vertical as soon as possible, or

C
you’ll get too far apart! 3. BREAK
M 1st at full speed
2. ATTACK vertically, eyeball (thin),
thin), O with a hard
C the nearest deep defender. O
should trail M slightly, don’t get
nod as or slightly
after M, flatten to
too far inside! “dead area”

1. “WRAP” to switch positions

or stack, must avoid jam! ‘Q’ If you get within 5
yds of the sideline,
O Be patient,
patient, let M “Settle” and work
others clear to stay open along
I I O your same depth
•5 step ANGLE drop... M & O generally end up “Squeezed” together
•Arrow is your ‘Q’ if heat comes early... through alignment or motion; M is 6-7 yds outside T
•Backside if C stays
“63” Shown •“Object Receiver Read” off the Corner route... outside/high...
•‘2’ ball to the Corner route if no one invades... •Arrow if someone comes underneath it, or as an outlet
BS OUTS: SEAM READ.
READ. Normal odd-numbered backside rules. Pre-read safety, attack and be decisive!
BS INS: GO READ.
READ. Normal odd-numbered backside rules. Be decisive, NEVER come inside the hash!
FS INS:
INS: ARROW SETTLE.
SETTLE. Release last to the Arrow, be patient, work the flat area to be open. Expect immediately (‘Q’) or late.
FS MID: “WRAP” to THIN POST.
POST. Do whatever is necessary to get a clean release, angling out to engage the CB--make EYE
contact with him. Straighten up and accelerate to 12 yards, nod at CB without losing speed and break THIN to the Post.
FS OUTS: “WRAP” to CORNER. As soon as you get inside M and get a free alley, get vertical, keep minimal space between
you and M. You must stay BEHIND M. Eyeball the safety; freeze him. Nod at 9-10, break FLAT to Corner underneath M at 12.
QB: 5-step angle drop. Arrow is ‘Q’ and Outlet. Object receiver read on either side of the Corner route. Corner throw is a 2 ball. If the CB
stays wide, go backside (possible peek at Post by G.P.). If any defender is trying to retreat under it, go Arrow to BS.
BS. Never try to drop one
over a retreating DB/LB. Alert for eye contact on the late Arrow. Arrow can be primary off 3 step progression by D/D.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
 Ron Strong Z Short Hot 63 v. Cov 0 Rex Over Squeeze 63-22 v. Cov 1
3 You
Draw It

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R C W S R C
W E T T E E T N T E

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C N M Z C R N M W
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E N E E T T E

Cluster Left Scat Hot 73 v. Cov 2 Ace Z7 Max 73-45 v. Cov 3

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 3 Route:
“SNAP” Adjustment
3 Snap
Philosoph
y

•A common adjustment to “Squeeze” and “Bunch”

alignments and to our 3 route release is to:
a) Loosen the Cornerback to get extremely wide and deep, and
b) Drop extra underneath players for width (LBs, etc.)

•The “Snap” tag takes advantage of the areas the defense

leaves open when they overreact to the 3 route by having
the Outside receiver Snap his Corner route off to a
modified Dig, and having the Inside receiver Snap his
Arrow off to an Angle route after taking their normal 3
route releases!

- t o M A I N D I R E C T O R Y -- t o I N S T R U C T I O N A L -
 3 ROUTE: “SNAP”
3 Snap
Instructio
nal

BS Seam must Stay On

Seam to avoid FS guy’s
sandbox!

## S S Accelerate if
chased

Sit in 1st hole if not chased C

C Must see potential
danger player in front! V
V V ANGLE KEYS
1. Don’t hurry: must
widen flat defender & stay
O M one window behind Dig.
2. Hard fake to sell the
I I O Arrow v. man
•5 step ANGLE drop...
•Look & or short pump to flat area, 3. Base your angle on drop
try to move them wide of LB inside you
“63 SNAP” Shown •Progression is Dig to Angle to BS
BS OUTS: SEAM READ. READ. Normal odd-numbered backside rules. Pre-read safety, attack and be decisive!
BS INS: GO READ.
READ. Normal odd-numbered backside rules. Be decisive, NEVER come inside the hash!
FS INS:
INS: ANGLE.
ANGLE. Patient release, push to Arrow (use a nod if being chased), pivot back underneath 1 window behind O.
FS MID: “WRAP” to THIN POST.
POST. Do whatever is necessary to get a clean release, angling out to engage the CB--make EYE
contact with him. Straighten up and accelerate to 12 yards, nod at CB without losing speed and break THIN to the Post.
FS OUTS: “WRAP” to DIG/SIT. Start everything just like the 3 route, getting a feel for whether you’re being chased or not.
Break inside at 12 yds…if you’re being chased, give a nod first and accelerate,
accelerate, like a Dig. If not chased, “Sit” in 1st open
hole. 5-step angle drop. Your eyes are the key. FIRST, they must be used to widen flat and hook coverage early in the drop; THEN they
QB:
must be used to know EXACTLY where the MLB/BSLB is so you can see if he’s become a DANGER to the Dig. Work Dig to Arrow to
Backside. By game plan against Cover 2/4 teams that Read releases, we will change this read to a key defender read off the FS safety.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
Y Crazy Hot 63 Snap v. Cov 0 Right Out H6 63 Snap v. Cov 1
3 Snap
You
Draw It

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W E T T E E T N T E

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Bunch Lt Slide F4 Hot 73 Snap v. Cov 2 Rt Trio Firm 73-43 Snap v. Cov 3
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
 3 Route:
90-190 Adjustment
3 Quick
Philosoph
y

•This is a medium to short yardage and Red Zone variation

of the 3 route that does three things:
–Shortens the Breaks of the Corner and Thin Post, changing
up the “tempo” with which we attack the secondary
–Changes the QB’s drop to a 3 step drop, because it...
–Emphasizes the Arrow as the first read to take advantage of
open space on the outside

•This is a great way to pick up 3rd and less than 4

consistently, with the Arrow (or “Shoot” from the
backfield) coming off a sort of double screen. For the
same reason, it’s a good way to score inside the other
team’s 4 yard line!
•The Quicker Corner route allows us to use this play down
closer in the Red Zone also; it is also a good way to get a
guy in an open hole against Cover 2!

- t o M A I N D I R E C T O R Y -- t o I N S T R U C T I O N A L -
 3 ROUTE: 90-190 Series
3 Quick
Instructio
nal

3 b. M: If you get jammed/behind Corner,

forget the break, hit the jets, clear out!

C 3. BREAK
2. ATTACK vertically, eyeball
C the nearest deep defender. O
should trail M slightly, don’t get
M first at 8 yds;
O at 6 to 7,
7, angling
too far inside! 1/2way between C & S!
V 1. “WRAP” to switch positions
or stack, must avoid jam! ‘Q’
Look quickly,
O M catch, turn & GET
THE SIDELINE!
I I O
•Pre-snap read to pick a side... Release last, but rub off O’s
* Work Slant(s) if frontside overloaded hips as fast as you can!
“93” Shown •3 steps, hit Arrow on Anchor step if open... •Pop up, hit Corner with a 2-ball if Arrow jumped
(really a Key Defender off CB v. Cov 2)
BS OUTS: 3 step SLANT.
SLANT. Must attack the INSIDE LEG of the DB over you. Adjust angle of break based on alignment of
CB. SLANT. Must attack the INSIDE LEG of the man over you. LOOKIE adjustment if man over you widens!
BS INSIDE: 2 step SLANT.
FS INS:
INS: ARROW (No Settle).
Settle). Release as quickly as you can off O’s rear, last into pattern. Expect the ball in a hurry!
FS MID: “WRAP” to SHORT POST.
POST. Do whatever is necessary to get a clean release, angling out to engage the CB--make EYE
contact with him. Straighten up and accelerate to 8 yards, nod at CB without losing speed and break THIN to the Post.
FS OUTS: “WRAP” to QUICK CORNER. Wrap inside M, straighten QUICKLY into an open runway, eye safety briefly, nod
and snap back out at 6-7. This will happen FAST. As you break, work toward a spot exactly halfway between the CB & safety
on your side.
QB: Pre-Snap read for Frontside/Backside numbers balance. Work BS Slant combination if FS is overloaded. If numbers are good FS,
think Arrow off Anchor step to Qk Corner off pop-up. Vs. 2 saf. look, treat as a key defender read off CB. Corner is a 3 ball v. man, 2 v. Cov. 2
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
 Ron Squeeze Hot 93 v. Cov 0 Split Larry Y6 93-32 v. Cov 1
3 Quick
You
Draw It

J
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C M S C
R C W S R C
W E T T E E T N T E

J
R J
C C
C N M Z C R N M W
D
E N E E T T E

Stack R11 Hot 193 v. Cov 2 West 193 v. Cov 3

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