Playbooks

Dash WR Leak

Pistol·Bunch·11

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Breakdown

Dash WR Leak is a play-action rollout concept out of Pistol Bunch that disguises the run action before releasing the leaking receiver underneath. The offensive line and backfield sell an outside run threat while the QB rolls out on the dash action, using the leak route as a delayed release man beater against aggressive linebackers who bite on the run fake. The primary read is the leak receiver working underneath first, then progressing to the bunch routes breaking open on the boundary as the QB works through his rollout mesh points.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety shells pre-snap since Cover 1 and Cover 3 looks are more vulnerable to the play-action sell and leak release underneath. Watch linebacker depth and alignment at the snap, if they crash hard toward the run fake, the leak route will have a clean throwing lane immediately. Key the flat defender and edge player on the rollout side after the snap, since a disciplined defender sitting on the flat can jump the leak route and blow up the primary read. Beware Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, as these shells keep extra defenders in underneath zones and can rally to the leak route or contain the rollout entirely. Watch for a delayed blitz or contain rush off the edge, since user defenders spying the QB rollout can collapse the pocket before the leak route fully develops.

Usage Tips

Run this on early downs or manageable third downs when the defense has shown a heavy run blitz look on tape, since the play-action sell only works if the defense respects the run threat from Pistol Bunch. Check the linebacker depth pre-snap: if they are stacked tight to the line expecting run support, the leak route will be wide open in the flat or shallow crossing lane. Hot route the bunch receivers into deeper breaking routes if you diagnose zone coverage post-snap, since the underneath leak alone will not beat a sound Cover 3 that has flat defenders sitting on the rollout side. Sequence this play after calling HB Dive or HB Duo out of the same Bunch Pistol set so the defense keys run action and commits linebackers downhill, setting up the leak concept as a natural counter punch. Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep their edge defenders and linebackers home on play-action, since the rollout can get contained and force a checkdown or scramble.

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