Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FL Drive out of Pro Near (21 personnel) is a Cover 4 beater built on the classic drive concept. The flanker runs a deep corner route from the outside, the inline TE crosses underneath on a shallow drive route heading to the opposite side, and the near back runs an angle route out of the backfield that breaks flat before turning upfield. The primary read progression starts with the corner route to attack a safety cheating on the drive concept, then works down to the shallow drive/cross for a man beater conflict against linebackers, and finishes with the angle route as the checkdown against underneath zone or blitz.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties since Cover 4 and Cover 2 shells are the primary defenses this concept is designed to attack Watch the flat defender or near linebacker at the snap because if he sinks with the shallow drive route, the corner route window opens up on the sideline If the defense shows Cover 3 with a deep half safety rotating late, the corner route can get taken away, so be ready to check down to the drive route underneath Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest key, since the flanker corner route will win most one on one matchups against outside corners Watch for a user linebacker sitting in the shallow drive route lane or a disguised zone blitz, both of which can jump the crossing route and blow up the intermediate read
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for two-high safety alignment since the corner route is designed to split the numbers on Cover 4 shells before the safety can rotate over the top
Use the shallow drive route as your primary man beater versus Cover 1 or Cover 3 man because the crossing action creates natural rub separation against linebackers
Hot route the angle route to a flat or option route if you see zone blitz tendencies, giving you a faster outlet against pressure looks
Best called on second and medium or third and short where the shallow drive route can pick up the sticks quickly if the corner route is covered
Pair this play with Slants or Quick Outs earlier in a sequence to condition the defense to sit on short routes, then hit the corner route for an explosive play once safeties bite up
