Squeezing Out Points in the Red Raider Zone: Part 3 – Taking It to the Edge from Trio Squeeze

Texas Tech’s 2025 red zone attack is a clinic in versatility, and their Trio Squeeze formation is the engine driving it.

In Part 1, we broke down the Inside Zone play that powers their scheme. Part 2 showed how counters keep defenses guessing. Now, in Part 3, we’re hitting the edge with two explosive concepts: Toss and Follow Escort. These plays punish defenses that overcommit to stopping the interior run game, giving high school coaches simple yet devastating ways to stretch the field horizontally and score. Let’s dive into how the Red Raiders get outside from Trio Squeeze and how you can bring these concepts to your playbook.

Toss: Punching the Perimeter

It’s third-and-10 inside the 30, and Texas Tech lines up in Trio Squeeze with the off-ball receiver aligned slightly outside the stack. After pounding zone and counters, defenses are creeping inward, ready to clog the box. That’s when the Red Raiders strike with a quick Toss to the edge, exploiting overaggressive fronts for big gains.

Setup and Execution

• The on-ball receiver (No. 2) down blocks the defensive end, pinning him inside.

• The offensive tackle pulls to the trips side, sealing the edge by kicking out the next defender (usually a corner or outside linebacker).

• The off-ball receiver (No. 3) releases to the second level, blocking the first safety or linebacker to show.

• The wing sprints around the edge, leading the running back as a convoy blocker.

• The backside (solo receiver and linemen) follows outside zone rules, cutting off pursuit angles.

• The running back takes a quick toss and follows the wing to the perimeter.

Why It Works: Defenses tightening down to stop Inside Zone leave the edge vulnerable. The down block and pulling tackle create a clean alley, while the wing’s lead block clears out second-level defenders.

The quick toss shows this to perfection: the tackle’s pull seals the corner, the wing buries the safety, and the back hits the edge for a chunk gain. It’s a classic way to punish a compressed defense.

For High School Coaches: Toss is a low-risk, high-reward add-on to your Trio Squeeze package. Drill your tackle to pull with speed and hit the kickout at a sharp angle. Teach your wing to explode through contact on the lead block. Even smaller, less athletic teams can execute this by emphasizing timing and physicality. Use it on third-and-long or when you spot the defense pinching inside.

Follow Escort: Stretching Defenses to the Breaking Point

If Toss is the jab, Follow Escort is the knockout hook. This concept is my favorite from Texas Tech’s Trio Squeeze arsenal because it takes a trendy play (Escort) and adds a layered twist that puts defenses in a no-win situation. It’s a two-pronged attack that combines a swing screen with an intermediate passing threat, perfect for high school coaches looking to create space and score.

Setup and Execution:

• Texas Tech aligns in Trio Squeeze, with the wing (often a tight end or H-back) set as the innermost receiver to the trips side.

• Escort Component: The wing releases as a lead blocker for the running back, who swings out to the trips side on a screen route. The on-ball receiver (No. 2) stalks the corner to clear space for the swing.

• Follow Component: The off-ball receiver (No. 3) gets a clean release and runs a deep crosser (over route) across the field, while the on-ball receiver angles out then cuts back inside, trailing the crosser. This creates a layered passing concept.

• The solo receiver on the backside runs a complementary route (often a hitch or slant) to occupy the weak-side corner.

• The quarterback reads the defense: if the safety and linebacker crash the swing, he hits the deep crosser or trailing receiver. If the secondary sits back, he dumps to the swing with the wing leading.

Why It Works: Follow Escort is a horizontal and vertical stress test. The swing screen with a lead blocker forces linebackers and safeties to flow fast to the trips side, opening windows for the deep crosser or trailing receiver. In man coverage, the crosser-trailer combo creates natural picks, while zone defenses struggle with the spacing. Here we see the play showing the potential: the off-ball receiver comes wide open on the deep over, but backside pressure forces an early throw to the swing for a 5-yard gain down to the 1.

While the QB locks onto the solo receiver pre-snap (likely a matchup read), the swing route with the wing escorting comes open and is a thing of beauty inside the 10 yard line. A running back in space with a blocker and a shot to score is the dream of any OC.

What to Watch: Texas Tech doesn’t always connect on Follow Escort, often due to pressure or mistimed reads, but the concept’s brilliance lies in its flexibility. It puts defenses in a bind, forcing them to choose between stopping a quick-hitting screen or covering deep threats.

For High School Coaches: This is a game-changer for your red zone package. Use a tight end or physical slot as the wing to lead the swing. Simplify the QB’s read: check the swing first, then the deep crosser, then the trailer. Drill your receivers to run crisp routes to exploit man coverage. Even if you don’t hit the deep shot, the swing with a lead blocker is a reliable 5-7 yards, perfect for setting up manageable downs inside the 10.

Trio Squeeze Takeaways

Texas Tech’s edge-attacking plays from Trio Squeeze are a masterclass in exploiting defensive overreactions. Here’s how to make them work for your team:

1. Sell the Run First: Pound Inside Zone (Part 1) and counters (Part 2) to force defenses to collapse inside, setting up Toss and Follow Escort.

2. Drill Pulling and Blocking: For Toss, train your tackle to pull with speed and your wing to lead with violence. For Follow Escort, ensure your wing can block in space and your receivers run precise routes.

3. Simplify Reads: Keep QB progressions manageable: swing, crosser, trailer for Follow Escort; handoff or check down for Toss. High school QBs thrive on clear decisions.

4. Use Pre-Snap Motion: Motion into Trio Squeeze to create confusion, as seen in Texas Tech’s setups. It forces defenders to adjust late and reveal their coverage.

5. Mix and Match: Pair Toss with Follow Escort in the same series to keep defenses guessing. Show the run, then hit the screen or deep shot.

Texas Tech’s Trio Squeeze isn’t just about grinding out yards, it’s about explosive plays that stretch defenses to the breaking point. By adding Toss and Follow Escort to your red zone arsenal, you can turn the 30-to-goal-line area into your personal scoring zone, just like the Red Raiders.