Playbooks
Seattle
Breakdown
Seattle is a four verticals concept out of Bunch Str Offset with play action mixed in to hold the second level defenders. From the bunch, one receiver runs a deep corner route toward the sideline, another climbs a seam route up the numbers, and the third receiver breaks across the field on a shallow crossing route that clears out horizontally. The lone backside receiver stretches vertically on a go route while the offensive line executes a play action pass protection to sell the run fake before the quarterback works his reads from the seam to the corner.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth. Two high safeties sitting deep and wide indicate Cover 2, which sets up the corner route to win over the flat defender and hi-lo the cornerback. A single high safety with corners playing outside leverage points to Cover 3, meaning the seam and go route from the bunch attack the seam void between the flat defender and the deep third safety. Post-snap, key the flat defender or the underneath hook player out of the bunch look. If he sinks with the deep out breaking to the sideline, the seam route sitting behind him is your answer. Watch the backside linebacker or nickel defender flow on the shallow crossing route. If he widens with it, that opens a throwing lane up the middle for the seam and Go combo. Against man coverage, look for a lurking safety robbing the middle of the field. If he stays high without committing, the corner route into the boundary is safer than forcing the ball into the seam. Blitz-heavy defenses with off-coverage on the backside will surrender the shallow crosser quickly, so use your play action fake to hold the edge rusher and get the ball out before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Use Seattle on second and long or third and medium situations where defenses expect a dropback pass, since the play action fake still holds linebackers just enough to open the seam window. Identify the coverage shell before the snap by checking the safeties. Two deep safeties mean you attack with the corner route against Cover 2, while one deep safety tells you to work the seam route against Cover 3. Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper dig or spot route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that sit their linebackers underneath, since that adjustment creates a natural sit read against Tampa 2 shells. Pair this play with Mtn Fk Toss Verticals or Verts Dig earlier in a drive to condition the defense into keying run action, then call Seattle to hit the seam or corner once linebackers start jumping the fake. Against aggressive man blitz packages, throw hot to the shallow crosser immediately since it clears space fast and beats press coverage off the bunch alignment.
