Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Pistol Bunch sends both outside receivers vertical on go routes to stretch the deep safeties, while the bunch receiver runs a drive route underneath crossing the field, and the tight end works a deep out or comeback toward the sideline. The HB releases from the backfield on an angle route to the flat as a checkdown or man beater against a linebacker. This is a play-action-style timing throw designed as a Cover 4 beater, attacking the seams and hole created by the two vertical routes while the drive route settles into the void left behind the linebackers, with the primary read progression starting on the drive route in the middle of the field before working to the HB angle route in the flat and finally the go routes on the perimeter if the coverage bites underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are aligned in a two-high shell, since Cover 4 and Cover 2 shells are the primary weak spots for this concept. Watch the underneath linebackers at the snap, if they sink too deep to cover the drive route they open up throwing lanes to the HB in the flat. Man coverage with press corners on the outside receivers can shut down the go routes quickly, so if you see man alignment pre-snap, shift your focus to the drive and angle routes immediately. Look for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk position in the middle of the field, since that defender can jump the drive route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Cover 3 with a hard-charging blitz off the edge can disrupt the timing of this concept, so check protection or hot route the HB to stay in as a blocker if you see extra rushers creeping toward the line.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shifts from a two-high shell into single-high, since that tells you whether the go routes or the drive route will be the better matchup. Against Cover 4 or quarters coverage, trust the drive route first since it exploits the seam defenders sinking too deep or getting picked off by the bunch traffic. If the linebackers show blitz or crowd the line pre-snap, hot route the HB angle route into a quick release or check it down immediately for a safe gain. Pair this play with HB Slip Screen and Curl Flat from the same set so the defense has to respect both the quick game and the drive concept, keeping linebackers honest and unable to jump the drive route. This play works best on second and medium to long distance where you have room to let the deep routes develop and still have the drive route as a safety valve underneath.
