Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Branch Return is a bunch spread route concept out of Shotgun 11 personnel that uses pre-snap motion to shift the strength of the formation before the snap. The bunch releases into a corner route from the outside receiver, a deep vertical seam from the inline slot that breaks up the field, and an underneath return route that works flat to a crossing pivot back toward the formation, while the motion man works a wheel route from the backfield up the sideline. This is a man beater built to create natural traffic and pick opportunities at the line, with the primary read progression starting on the deep corner route, moving to the vertical seam breaking outside, and checking down to the return crosser and wheel route underneath if the top of the defense is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shifts a defender with the motion man since that confirms man coverage and opens up the wheel route as a big play threat. Check safety depth before the snap because two deep safeties signal a zone shell that should send you to the underneath return route instead of forcing the corner throw. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot near the bunch since that threatens both the return route and the underneath crosser. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the vertical seam route splitting the defenders in the bunch release. Zone blitz looks with a linebacker dropping into the passing lane can take away the return route, so be ready to climb the pocket and reset your eyes to the wheel route on the perimeter.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense follows the man across the formation, which confirms man coverage and tells you the wheel route is live down the sideline. Against zone shells, key the flat defender and throw the return route as it works underneath since bunch traffic naturally picks off shallow zone droppers. Save this play for third and medium to third and long situations where the corner route and vertical seam can stress a defense vertically while the underneath options serve as your checkdown against a soft zone. Pair this call with Mtn Slot Under or Mtn Slot Hitch earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick underneath game before you hit them with the deeper corner and seam shots. If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, get the ball out quickly to the return route or wheel since the deep routes take longer to develop and the protection is not built for max protect looks.
