Yankee
Backside post + deep over off play-action
- Read #1
- Reads 2+
- Checkdown
- Telestrator
Yankee is a Shanahan-tree shot play. Off run action, the backside outside receiver runs a 15-yard skinny post breaking inside, while the frontside tight end or slot crosses the field on a deep over at 18 to 20 yards behind the post. The two routes converge on the single deep safety from opposite sides at different levels. Against MOF-closed coverage (Cover 1 or Cover 3), the safety cannot honor both. Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Mike McDaniel all run this as their go-to opening-script shot play paired with wide zone run action.
Reads
5 ROUTESTap a route to trace it on the field.
Read progression
Read the single deep safety. If he stays on top of the post, throw the deep over crossing behind him. If he widens to the over, hit the post inside. The drag and check-release are full-field cleanup options.
Why it works
A single high safety cannot defend two routes converging from opposite sides at staggered depths. The post pulls him toward one hash, the deep over crosses behind him from the other. Whichever leverage he plays, the QB throws the other route.
Conflict defender
The single deep safety, must choose between the inside post pulling him one way and the deep over crossing behind him.
Origin
A Shanahan-tree staple. Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, Sean McVay in LA, and Mike McDaniel in Miami all run this off wide zone run action as their signature opening-script shot.
Yankee vs coverages
10 RATED- Cover 1Beats it
Same MOFC vulnerability as Cover 3 plus PA pulls the LBs up, the post stretches the FS off his landmark and the deep over runs into the vacated middle with no underneath help.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Free safety (deep middle)
Why the offense wins. Same MOFC vulnerability as Cover 3 plus PA pulls the LBs up, the post stretches the FS off his landmark and the deep over runs into the vacated middle with no underneath help. Cover 1 is the textbook Yankee target.
Key adjustment. Drop the FS pre-snap to a robber spin or check to a 2-deep look to take away the void in the middle.
- Cover 3Beats it
Play-action holds the linebackers and the post pulls the FS, leaving the deep over running into the vacated middle of the field between hash and numbers.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Free safety (deep middle third)
Why the offense wins. Play-action holds the linebackers and the post pulls the FS, leaving the deep over running into the vacated middle of the field between hash and numbers. Single-high MOFC is exactly what Yankee is designed to attack.
Key adjustment. Keep the FS square on the post and carry the over with the curl/hook defender; a late rotation to two-high puts a second safety on the over.
- RobberToss-up
The robber reads the QB and sinks under crossers while the FS stays on top of the post — both shot routes get a defender without anyone leaving the middle.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Robber safety lurking middle hook
Why the offense wins. The over crosses at 18-20, above the robber's lurk depth — with play-action holding him near the box and the FS stretched by the post, the over can clear the rob window before he gains depth.
Why the defense wins. The robber reads the QB and sinks under crossers while the FS stays on top of the post — both shot routes get a defender without anyone leaving the middle.
Key adjustment. Keep the FS on the post and have the robber sink under the over at 18 yards.
- Cover 6Tough
Cover 6 has two deep safeties (a Cover 2 half and a quarters half) covering the middle of the field, Yankee needs MOFC.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Quarters-side safety (Cover 4 half)
Why the offense wins. The deep over can hit if the quarters safety bites on the post.
Why the defense wins. Cover 6 has two deep safeties (a Cover 2 half and a quarters half) covering the middle of the field, Yankee needs MOFC.
Key adjustment. Keep both safeties deep; the quarters safety reads the post and the half safety squeezes the over.
- Cover 2 ManTough
Two-deep safeties prevent Yankee's deep over from hitting MOFC — Yankee needs single-high.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Both deep safeties
Why the offense wins. The deep over can win vs the LB on the TE if PA pulls underneath defenders.
Why the defense wins. Two-deep safeties prevent Yankee's deep over from hitting MOFC — Yankee needs single-high.
Key adjustment. Keep both safeties deep and trail the over with inside leverage.
- Palms / ClampTough
Palms keeps two safeties deep (MOFO) — the read-side safety caps the post while the backside safety squeezes the deep over.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Palms-side cornerback
Why the offense wins. The deep over can hit if the safety bites on PA.
Why the defense wins. Palms keeps two safeties deep (MOFO) — the read-side safety caps the post while the backside safety squeezes the deep over. Yankee needs a single-high middle to attack and there isn't one.
Key adjustment. Keep both safeties deep; the read-side safety caps the post and the backside safety squeezes the over.
- Cover 0Avoid
Yankee is a deep PA shot — Cover 0 blitzes 6+ defenders, the play-action does nothing because there's no safety to hold and the deep routes take 4+ seconds to develop.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Free safety blitzing or no deep help
Why the defense wins. Yankee is a deep PA shot — Cover 0 blitzes 6+ defenders, the play-action does nothing because there's no safety to hold and the deep routes take 4+ seconds to develop.
Key adjustment. Bring six; there is no safety to hold with the fake and the routes take four seconds.
- Cover 2Avoid
Two-deep safeties take away the post and the over simultaneously, Yankee needs the middle of the field vacated, and Cover 2 keeps it covered.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Both deep-half safeties
Why the defense wins. Two-deep safeties take away the post and the over simultaneously, Yankee needs the middle of the field vacated, and Cover 2 keeps it covered.
Key adjustment. Keep both half safeties deep; the post and the over both run into a safety.
- Cover 4Avoid
Quarters defenders read the post and the over as #1 / #2 verticals and pass them off, no single defender is ever in conflict.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Both quarters safeties
Why the defense wins. Quarters defenders read the post and the over as #1 / #2 verticals and pass them off, no single defender is ever in conflict.
Key adjustment. Pass the post and the over as #1 and #2 verticals; the safeties stay on top.
- Tampa 2Avoid
The deep MIKE drop closes the seam where the deep over wants to sit, while the two deep safeties handle the post.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Tampa 2 MIKE in deep middle
Why the defense wins. The deep MIKE drop closes the seam where the deep over wants to sit, while the two deep safeties handle the post.
Key adjustment. Have the MIKE turn and run with the over to the deep middle.