Cris Carter runs this route as well as anyone in the league. You want this play against two-deep safeties with the middle of the field open. Tampa Bay plays a ton of Cover 2 and zone, leaving the middle of the field open. Minnesota will try to split the field often, and this is a great play to do it.
The Bucs are solid up front with a two-deep zone. To make this play work, you need a physical receiver to get off the line down the seam and speed on the outside that the defense respects. The Vikings have both in Carter and Randy Moss.
Carter will do his best to get a clean release off the line, sometimes from motion, sometimes stationary. He will run vertically for 10 to 12 yards and then give a little lean to the outside faking an option or an out route. This is to get the linebacker, whose job in a two-deep zone is to get deep into the throwing lane to protect the middle of the field, drive to the outside or, at least, go flat-footed. With this accomplished, Carter splits the middle of the field. The instant Carter gets to linebacker depth Daunte Culpepper delivers the ball.
The throw is important here as well. It can't be too lofted, or the safeties will have time to converge. It can't be on a line because the linebacker has been retreating and it needs to get over him. If they get two-deep coverage in the red zone, you will see Culpepper run this play from various formations throwing at the end zone.
To defend this, the Bucs will have to make sure Carter doesn't get a free relase off the line. Also, getting the linebacker deep enough to disrupt the play is key.
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