Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Corner Divide is a bunch spread passing concept out of Shotgun Bunch Spread Nasty that attacks the field with a five man route distribution. The bunch side runs a divide concept with one receiver clearing vertically up the seam while the other two work an out and corner combo, and the backside iso receiver stems a deep post over the top. The HB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route from the opposite side, giving the quarterback a check down or big play option if the corner blitzes or overplays the underneath routes. This is a man beater concept designed to create natural picks off the bunch alignment, with the primary read progressing from the corner route out of the bunch to the post, then working down to the HB wheel as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with corners lined up directly over the bunch receivers, since this alignment is most vulnerable to the natural rub created by the divide concept. Check safety depth and rotation before the snap, because a single high safety leaves the backside post open once he has to respect the corner route breaking to the sideline. Post-snap, user the underneath linebacker to disrupt the HB wheel route timing, since this is the quarterback's checkdown against blitz pressure and taking it away forces a tougher throw into the bunch. Watch for a corner blitz off the bunch side, which the wheel route is designed to beat, so a defense that blitzes without accounting for the HB release is susceptible to a big gain. Zone coverage with a deep half safety over the top and a flat defender sitting on the corner route can take away the primary read, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and check down late.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners aligned tight on the bunch receivers, since the natural rub from the bunch release creates instant separation against man defenders.
Use motion or a quick glance at the safety depth to confirm single high versus two high, because the backside post only hits versus single high shells where the free safety has to respect the corner route first.
Hot route the HB wheel to a check release if you are facing a heavy blitz look, giving your quarterback extra protection while still keeping the wheel as a home run outlet against linebackers in man coverage.
This play works best on second or third and medium situations where defenses are willing to play man to man, so pair it with Orbit Fork Whip or Mtn HB Corner in your play calling sequence to keep the defense guessing between similar bunch action and different route depths.
If you see the defense adjust to squat on the bunch routes after a few reps, counter with Orbit Shallow Cross or Mesh Traffic from the same formation to hit the shallow crossers before the defense can rotate back.
