Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Spacing Switch is a five-man protection route out of the Shotgun Bunch Wide Nasty set that stresses the width of the field with a switch release out of the bunch on the right and a lone receiver running an out and up on the left. The bunch releases into a switch concept with the outside receiver settling into a shallow flat/spacing route while the inner receiver climbs vertically up the seam, and the third bunch receiver breaks outside to the corner, creating a natural rub and horizontal stretch on zone defenders. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback style route while the running back releases on a check release swing to the flat, giving the quarterback a full-field progression read. This is a zone beater designed to attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells, with the primary read starting on the switch corner route, working down to the spacing flat, and checking down to the running back if the underneath zones are clogged.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check safety depth and alignment: two deep safeties indicate Cover 4 or Cover 2, while a single high safety signals Cover 3 or Cover 1. Key the flat defender on the bunch side immediately after the snap, since the switch release is designed to put him in conflict between the flat route and the corner route. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the deep third or hook zone, as that lurk can jump the spacing route or the switch corner if the quarterback stares it down too long. Against man coverage, look for the corner or nickel defender to get picked or rubbed off by the switch release traffic, which opens a window for the vertical seam route. If the defense shows a nano blitz or heavy pressure look with the middle linebacker crashing downhill, get the ball out quickly to the running back's swing or the spacing route underneath before the protection breaks down.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium to third and medium situations where defenses are likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure.
Presnap, identify if the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since this concept is built to exploit the seams in Cover 3 and Cover 4.
If you see man coverage with the corner shaded outside on the bunch, hot route the inner switch receiver to a slant to beat the rub quicker.
Combine this play with Flood Switch or Cheat Flood Switch from the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal flood reads and this vertical switch concept.
Look to hit the corner route on the switch first against Cover 3, since the flat defender and deep third defender are often put in a bind by the switch release.
Use the running back's check release swing as a built in outlet against blitz heavy man packages when your primary reads are covered.
