Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh Rebound is a man beater out of Shotgun Bunch Offset Close that stacks two crossing routes underneath to rub off man defenders. The backside receiver runs a deep corner route while the two bunch receivers cross low through the middle in opposite directions, with one rebounding back to the flat and the other clearing to the opposite sideline, and the running back releases out of the backfield on a swing route to the boundary. Post-snap, the primary read starts with the mesh crossers underneath to find natural picks against man coverage, then works to the deep corner route if the safety bites down on the shallow crossers.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with defenders lined up tight over the bunch, this play is designed to exploit that with natural rub routes. Watch the safety depth over the top, if he is shaded toward the bunch side the deep corner route from the backside is likely to be open. Post-snap, key the underneath linebackers and nickel defender for a lurk technique sitting in the mesh area, a smart user defender can jump the shallow crossers and blow up the primary read. If you see a nano blitz or aggressive edge pressure, the running back's swing route becomes the checkdown outlet before the mesh routes have time to develop. Against zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, look for the underneath zone defenders to sink and take away the rebound route, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and climb to the corner route instead.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium when man coverage is likely based on personnel matchups against your bunch look.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the defender over the deep corner route receiver, if he is playing off man with no safety help over the top you have a big play shot.
Hot route the running back's swing route into a check release if you are facing a heavy blitz look so he can help protect before working to the flat.
Pair this with Y Trail from the same set to attack the same bunch alignment with a different crossing angle, forcing defenders to respect both shallow and vertical stems.
Against zone coverage look to rebound quickly, the crosser that comes back underneath is your zone beater sitting in the soft spot behind the linebackers.
