Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Branch Return is a route concept out of the bunch look with a jet motion tag across the backfield that can influence flow before the snap. From the bunch, the outside receiver runs a deep corner or wheel up the sideline while the two inside bunch receivers work a return concept: one snaps back underneath on a flat/drag route while the other clears out over the top and settles on a deep cross back to the opposite side. This is a man beater built to punish man coverage on the bunch side, using the natural rub and traffic to spring the underneath return route while the deep corner route stretches the defense vertically. Primary read progression starts with the deep corner/wheel route on a one-on-one matchup, then works down to the shallow return route working back across the field, with the deep crossing route as the backside window against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a defender trailing the jet motion man pre-snap, which confirms man coverage and tells you the bunch rub concept will be live. If the corner over the outside receiver bails deep at the snap, that signals zone coverage and you should look to the shallow return route working back underneath instead of forcing the corner route. Check linebacker depth before the snap. Linebackers sitting shallow near the line are vulnerable to the deep crossing route working behind them. Be alert for a user-controlled safety sitting in the middle of the field, since he can jump the deep crossing route or provide help over the top on the corner route. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, since the bunch alignment creates natural picks that man defenders struggle to fight through.
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone: if a defender follows the motion man across the formation, you are looking at man coverage and the bunch rub routes will spring open quickly.
Hot route the shallow return route into a deeper drag if you see linebackers sitting low in zone, since the natural pick from the bunch alignment still creates separation.
This play is best called on second or third and medium since the layered depth of the corner route and the crossing route gives you a quick option and a deep option in the same play.
Pair this with Cheat Wheel Post or Cheat Post Slot Cross from the same set to keep defenses guessing on whether the bunch side will attack vertically or work back underneath.
Against aggressive man blitzes, get the ball out fast on the shallow return route since the traffic in the bunch alignment naturally disrupts press coverage and off-ball blitzers.
