How Mercer Carves Up Defenses with Sail Concept Variations
Mercer has quietly fielded one of the top aerial attacks in college football in 2025. The Bears are led by Braden Atkinson, who has already topped 3,200 passing yards in just nine games. He has cleared 300 yards in all but one outing, with two 400-yard performances and even a 500-yard day on the résumé. A staple of their passing menu is the “sail” concept and its variations. In this article, we’re breaking down how Mercer packages sail in different ways to stress coverage and attack space. At its core, sail is built on a three-level stretch. There is usually a vertical route to clear out the zone, a deep out breaking route that acts as the primary throw, and a flat or underneath release to challenge the flat defender. The read is simple: what does the flat player do? Does he get depth? Does he widen and attack the flat?
Trey Flex
Here, the Bears run sail out of a “Trey Flex” set with return motion. The route structure is the most basic version of sail, with a go route outside and the sail from the No. 2. What stands out is how Mercer tags on an escort swing route as the flat component. The defense rolls into quarters, and Atkinson hits the sail in rhythm. The real value here is in how Mercer incorporates the escort swing into a core passing concept. This wrinkle has become more common across college football, and the Bears are using it to stretch the flat player while protecting the primary throw.
Trips Closed (Nub)
On this rep, the Bears run sail with double post attached from a trips closed, or nub, formation. They use max protection, keeping both the tight end and back in to block, which gives Atkinson time to let the concept develop. It looks like WCU is playing a version of “Stubbie” coverage, and they do a good job jumping the deep out. The outside post, though, is left one-on-one, and Atkinson does what he does best. He gives his guy a chance down the field. The result is a huge gain for the Bears.
Trio Bunch Squeeze
We’ve seen sail from Trey and Trips, and now the Bears go to it out of a compressed Trips look. Compressed formations are always a strong setup for out-breaking routes. Watch the receiver’s inside stem before he breaks on the deep out. It’s little details like this that make Mercer so efficient with the concept. While the sail appears to be open, the quarterback checks it down to the running back in the flat off split zone action. It’s a smart decision and a solid gain. You can’t go broke taking a profit.
With Orbit Motion
Finally, we get sail from a balanced look, or at least it starts that way. Mercer lines up in a 2x2 11 personnel set and works to 3x1 with orbit motion. The motion man becomes the flat or check-down component of the concept. The flat defender gains depth on this rep, so the quarterback does a good job taking the underneath throw for a solid gain. It is the same concept, now presented in a fourth variation within just two games.
Change it up with a Juke Tag
I’ve always called this route a “juke” route, though others use different names. It is essentially a whip route, but instead of breaking outside, the receiver snaps it back inside. Mercer pairs this with their sail concept, and it is a smart change-up. All game long, the defense sees the deep out and the flat route. They work out and work out and work out. Now the quarterback still reads the flat player, but if that defender flies out to the flat, the juke route opens up inside. It is a cleaner throw and creates space underneath, working back into the middle of the field instead of toward the sideline. In the first example, the flat defender expands, so the quarterback throws the juke. In the second, the flat defender sticks with the juke, so they throw the deep out. It is the same read with a completely different presentation for the defense.
Conclusion
Mercer’s use of the sail concept is a great example of marrying simplicity with variety. They are not reinventing anything, but they are dressing it up just enough to keep defenses on their heels. Whether it is out of Trey, Trips, compressed sets, or motion, the read stays consistent: attack the flat defender and take what is given. The real edge comes from how well coached the details are. Stem discipline, route timing, and smart decisions by the quarterback make the concept come to life. This is high-level execution of a foundational passing concept, and it is a big reason why Mercer has become one of the most dangerous passing teams in the country.