Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Drive out of Pistol Wing 12 personnel gives you a classic two level crossing concept married to dual outlets on the perimeter. Both outside receivers push vertical up the numbers before breaking back toward the sideline, while the inside route runs a deep dig across the middle from the boundary side to the field side, sitting behind the underneath crosser that clears low. The backside TE runs a quick angle route out of the backfield area as a checkdown against blitz, and the primary progression is the deep crossing dig first, working to the shallow drag underneath, then the comeback breaks on the perimeter, and finally the angle route as your last resort against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since this concept is built to attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the deep crossing dig route. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the drag you can expect the dig to be open behind them. Against Cover 4 or Cover 2, the comeback routes on the perimeter become the answer since corners playing off will open a natural window when they break outside. User linebackers sitting in a lurk spot in the middle of the field can undercut both the drag and the dig, so know where your user defender is before committing to the deep crosser. Blitz-heavy man coverage looks are dangerous here because the backside TE angle route is your answer, but if that TE gets picked up in coverage quickly you need to get the ball out fast before pressure arrives.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap because this concept thrives against single high shells like Cover 1 and Cover 3 where the deep dig can sit down in the void behind the linebackers.
Use the shallow drag as your rhythm throw against zone coverage since it clears underneath and gives you a quick completion if the dig is capped by a robber or spy.
Hot route the backside TE into a flat route against Cover 4 to give yourself a true flat read if the corners squat on the comebacks.
Pair this play with PA Boot or PA Ctr Waggle from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run action before hitting the same crossing shapes off play action later in a series.
On third and medium, lean on the deep dig as your first read since it settles between the hashes right where zone defenders leave the biggest window.
