formation
Trips Formation
Trips is a 3x1 formation: three receivers to one side, one to the other. Overloading one side forces the defense to show how it covers three receivers, which often tells you the coverage before the snap.
How Trips Lines Up
In Crucible's Trips, three receivers (including the tight end) line up strong and one backside, with a back next to the QB in the shotgun. Trips Left and Trips Right are mirror images.
What It Does to a Defense
- It creates a numbers problem: the defense must rotate, check to a special trips coverage or leave the backside receiver one on one.
- That backside receiver is often one on one. If the corner gives free access, or presses with no help over the top, it is an easy throw.
- Three receivers to one side make Stick and three-level concepts like Sail natural.
How to Read It
Count the defenders over the three receivers. If a safety comes over to match them, the backside or the middle is lighter. If not, the trips side has the numbers.
Concepts Crucible Runs From Trips
BootHB Option / Bow
DigHB Option / In
SlopeHB Option / Slim
BranchBranch / Arrow / Go
CafeDiagonal / Corner / Curl
DancerBranch / Crease / Dagger
CurlDiagonal / Curl
HankOTB / Diagonal / Curl
+ 7 more in Crucible
Trips Plays in Crucible
Branch Slope
Cafe Stop
Dancer Boot
Hank Curl
Icon Boot
Pin Cobb
Sail Dig
Scissors Dig
+ 2 more in Crucible
