Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench Switch is a switch release passing concept out of Pistol Tight Y Off Flex with 11 personnel. To the boundary side, two receivers cross at the release with one running a deep corner route to the sideline and the other settling into a bench route sitting at the sticks facing the quarterback. To the field side, the TE runs a bench route breaking outside while the outside receiver climbs a deep corner toward the pylon, creating a two level flood. This is a man beater built on the switch release to create natural picks and separation against man coverage, with the primary read starting at the field side corner route against Cover 1 or Cover 3 and working down to the underneath bench routes if the deep shot is capped.
Defensive Reads
Identify press man coverage pre-snap on the outside receivers, this play is designed to beat exactly that look with the switch release creating natural separation. Watch for a single high safety rolled to the middle of the field, this indicates Cover 1 or Cover 3 and opens up the deep corner routes on both sides. Key the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into the underneath zones the bench routes will be squeezed and you should lean on the corner routes instead. Look for a user controlled defender spying the middle of the field or robbing the deep middle, this can undercut both corner routes if the quarterback holds the ball too long. This play struggles against a well disciplined Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell with corners squatting on the bench routes and safeties capping the corners, so avoid throwing outside against soft zone shells that sit on the sticks.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties rotate your first read to the bench route since the deep corners will be capped by the safety over the top.
Use the switch release to your advantage against man coverage by letting the crossing action at the line create natural rubs, this often springs the corner route open on the backside.
Hot route the running back into a checkdown or flat route on passing downs to give yourself an outlet if both levels are covered by a two deep shell.
Pair this play with Wheel Switch or Deep Post Switch in the same set to keep the defense guessing on switch releases, then hit them with Cheat Fk Swing Wheel out of the same personnel to sell run action.
Best used on second and long or third and medium when defenses are more likely to play zone or man match coverage that the switch release is designed to exploit.
