Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Drive out of Shotgun Bunch Trio Open lines up three receivers tight to one side with a lone receiver isolated backside. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical to stretch the defense, while the bunch releases into a classic Drive concept: one receiver clears deep to the corner, one runs the underneath drive route working across the field at the sticks, and the third works a shallow drag crossing under everything. The HB checks out of the backfield on a quick angle route into the flat as a man beater outlet, giving the quarterback a full field progression from deep to intermediate to shallow.
Defensive Reads
Against Cover 3, key the flat defender and curl to flat zone dropper, if he widens with the drag the drive route sits right behind him for an easy pitch and catch. Against Cover 4 or quarters, the drive route crossing underneath the deep defenders is the primary answer since it settles in the natural seam between the underneath and deep zones. Watch for a linebacker spy or lurk defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, this can jump the drag route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Against man coverage, the deep vertical on the backside isolation receiver is the true kill shot if the defense shows single high safety and the corner has no help over the top. Blitz heavy fronts or nano blitzes can disrupt this play quickly since it takes time to develop, so identify pressure pre-snap and be ready to hot route the HB angle route into a check release blocker.
Usage Tips
Read the safety shell before the snap, if you see two high safeties this is a strong Cover 4 beater because the drive route settles in the void between the flat defender and the deep quarter defender.
Progress your read from the outside vertical to the drive route crossing at intermediate depth, then check down to the shallow drag or the HB angle route if the middle of the field is clogged.
Use this play on second and medium to third and long situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure.
Hot route the backside isolated receiver into a quick out or comeback against aggressive man press corners to speed up the timing if you do not want to test the deep shot.
Pair this play with PA Choice Vert Comebacks or Four Verticals in the same set to keep defenders honest on the vertical shot and set up the drive concept underneath once safeties start cheating deep.
