Playbooks

Cluster Bunch

Shotgun·5WR Tight·00
Pass PlayQuick PassFloodOutGoFlatHitchSlant FlatMan BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Cluster Bunch from Shotgun 5WR Tight in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Cluster Bunch aligns three receivers in a tight bunch to the right with two isolated receivers split to the left and right. The bunch releases into a flood concept: the inside receiver runs a hitch, the middle receiver breaks outside on a flat route, and the outside bunch receiver stems vertical before breaking into a deep go route up the sideline, while the backside receiver runs a shallow slant into the flat and the far left receiver runs a hitch. This is a man beater built on natural rub traffic from the bunch alignment, with the flood to the right overloading one side of the field vertically, intermediately, and underneath.

Defensive Reads

Check the corner alignment over the bunch before the snap, since tight man press coverage is vulnerable to the natural rub created by the stacked receivers. Watch the flat defender post snap, if he sinks with the go route the flat and slant flat routes will be wide open underneath. Identify single high safety looks pre snap, since Cover 3 leaves the flood side flat defender outnumbered by the three route concept. User the deep half or deep third defender to the flood side immediately after the snap to prevent the go route from stacking on top of the underneath routes. Cover 2 with aggressive corners can jump the hitch and flat routes early, so look for the go route to be the answer versus that shell if the safety bites underneath.

Usage Tips

Attack man coverage first since the bunch alignment creates natural picks that spring the flat and hitch routes open against tight man technique.

Read the flood side (right) post snap, working from the deep go route down to the flat route based on which defender the safety or corner leaves open.

Against zone shells like Cover 3, target the hitch or the flat route since the flood puts three defenders in conflict and the underneath zone defender cannot cover both the flat and the hitch.

Use this on third and short to medium since the underneath flat and hitch routes give the QB a quick, safe completion if the go route is not open.

Pair Cluster Bunch with Mesh or Z Spot in your play calling sequence so defenses cannot key on the flood look after seeing it once.

Other Plays in 5WR Tight