Playbooks

Mtn Return Drive Flat

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Mtn Return Drive Flat is a bunch based man beater that uses a return concept to create natural picks and separation against man coverage while also giving you a quick flat answer against zone drops. The bunch alignment sends receivers on crossing drive routes that stack and rub defenders, with an out breaking corner or return route working behind the traffic and a flat route underneath to hold linebackers. Primary read progression starts with the drive route working across the field for the rub, then the return route to the void created by the traffic, and finally the flat as your checkdown or hot zone beater against underneath defenders.

Defensive Reads

Look for man coverage pre-snap since the bunch traffic is designed to rub off tight defenders trailing the drive routes, this play struggles more against a true zone match scheme that passes off receivers at the stack point. Watch the flat defender post-snap, if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes he can undercut the flat route and force you into the tighter return window. Identify the deep safety shell before the snap, a two high look with soft corners lets the flat and drive routes work easily underneath while a single high shell means the return route has to beat a possible robber defender sitting in the middle of the field. Watch for a user lurk defender crashing down from a linebacker spot since he can jump the drive route rub and blow up the return concept if the quarterback locks on too early. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge or through a nano blitz can be neutralized by getting the flat route out quickly as a built in hot route answer against pressure.

Usage Tips

Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like a corner shaded outside the bunch or a linebacker cheating toward the trips side, since the rub action off the drive routes is designed to shed tight man defenders. Use the flat route as an immediate answer against a Cover 2 or Cover 3 shell where the corner sits deep and the underneath defender has to choose between the flat and the crossing traffic. Motion is not necessary here since the bunch alignment already creates the natural picks, but you can shift the bunch to attack a defense's leverage before the snap. Pair this play with Mtn Return Cross Up or Mtn Return Flood Stick in the same set so the defense cannot key on the return concept without opening up other window shots. Best used on early downs or third and short where the flat and return combo gives you a high floor conversion look, and save it as a change of pace call after running Mtn HB Stretch or Mtn Mid Zone out of the same personnel to keep linebackers honest.