Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Orbit Bunch Salem is a Shotgun bunch formation play that uses pre-snap orbit motion to shift a receiver across the backfield before the snap, helping identify man versus zone coverage. Off the bunch alignment, the two outside receivers run deep crossers to the opposite side of the field while the flat route from the motion man works underneath along the sideline, and a shallow drag from the bunch cracks across the middle to create a natural pick element against man coverage. The primary read starts with the shallow drag underneath the crossers, then works to the flat route if the middle is clogged, using the crossing routes as the deep answer against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebacker assigned to the bunch at the snap, if he widens with the orbit motion man that confirms man coverage and opens up the shallow drag as the first read. Check safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating over the bunch side signals help over the crossers and should push the quarterback to the flat route instead. Watch for a nano blitz look with defensive linemen crashing inside, since the bunch formation can leave the backfield thin in pass protection against an overload rush. This play beats standard zone drops because the crossing routes clear out the middle linebacker's zone, but it struggles against a hard match zone or a defense that sinks a linebacker under the shallow drag. Man coverage with no help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, but a Cover 2 shell with corners playing outside leverage can squeeze the crossing routes and force a checkdown.
Usage Tips
Watch the motion defender at the snap, if he runs with the orbit man across the formation that confirms man coverage and you should target the shallow drag against a trailing linebacker.
Use this on second and medium to third and short since the shallow drag and flat route both give you easy YAC opportunities underneath if the defense sits back in zone.
Hot route the backside crosser into a hitch if you see a two high shell rolling to that side, since the natural pick from the bunch will not develop as cleanly against zone drops.
Pair this with Orbit Fork Whip or Orbit Smash Whip in your play calling sequence, the similar bunch motion look disguises which route combo is coming and keeps defenders from jumping the shallow drag.
Against aggressive man blitz teams, snap the ball quickly to the flat route since the crossers take time to develop and a free rusher off the edge can collapse the pocket before the deep crossers clear traffic.
