Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Switch out of Tight Slot Far shows a five man route concept designed to attack both zone and man leverage on the same snap. The backside receiver runs a deep bench (sideline comeback) route while the tight end releases underneath on a deep out crossing the field, creating a natural switch release that clears the flat. On the play side, the slot runs a quick pivot/return route to sit in the shallow zone while the outside receiver works a corner route up the sideline, giving the quarterback a full field stretch from shallow to deep. This is a zone beater at its core, since the switch release and pivot route are designed to confuse zone defenders' eyes and create picks, but it also holds up against man coverage thanks to the natural rub created by the crossing paths. Primary read progression starts with the deep out crosser working to the opposite side, then to the corner route up top, and finally checks down to the pivot route in the shallow zone.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check for two deep safeties versus one. A single high shell tells you the deep out crosser and corner route both have single coverage on the vertical stems, favoring the offense. Key the flat defender at the snap. If he sinks with the pivot route instead of jumping it, that opens a passing lane for the deep out crosser working behind him. Watch the corner's press alignment on the outside receiver running the corner route. A press look with no safety help over the top means the offense wants that matchup, so user up a lurking safety to rob the sideline. Look for the mike or a spy dropping into the shallow crossing lane, this is the primary defender who can jump the deep out route if he reads it quickly off the quarterback's eyes. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge before the switch release fully develops can force an early, inaccurate throw, since the quarterback's first read requires a full beat to clear the underneath traffic.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium to second and long when you need a horizontal stretch that also has a vertical answer built in.
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell. Against two high, the deep out crosser sitting behind the linebackers is your first read. Against single high, work the corner route since it attacks the void left by the deep safety rotating over.
Hot route the pivot route into a flat route if you are facing a Cover 2 shell with an aggressive corner jumping short routes, this gives you a faster outlet without changing protection.
Pair Bench Switch with Curl Drag from the same set to keep the defense guessing between a switch release concept and a traditional curl flood, both stress the same underneath zone defenders differently.
Watch for the mike linebacker's depth before the snap. If he is sitting shallow expecting a quick game, take the shot on the corner route since the deep out crosser will have a wider window against a shorter drop.
