Playbooks
Breakdown
Seam Divide is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Bunch Wide that attacks the middle of the field with a divide concept on the strong side. The two inside receivers from the bunch split with one running a vertical seam up the numbers and the other breaking to a corner route, creating a natural divide read that stresses the safety in the middle of the field. The backside receiver runs a deep crosser to the far sideline while the bunch releases a flat route and a comeback underneath, giving the quarterback a full field progression from the seam to the corner to the crosser. This is a man beater and zone beater combo play, with the seam and corner divide stretching single high or two high shells and the crosser providing a answer versus man coverage on the backside.
Defensive Reads
Identify the free safety depth and alignment pre-snap, since a shaded safety toward the bunch signals help over the seam and corner combo. Watch for cornerback press alignment on the backside receiver running the deep crosser, as press man invites a rub from the bunch formation. Post snap, key the middle linebacker or hook defender dropping into the seam window, since a late or shallow drop opens the seam throw immediately. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep defenders sinking into the seam and corner lanes, so avoid forcing the throw if you see a quarters shell pre-snap. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field trying to jump the crosser or seam route, and be ready to check down to the flat route if that defender flashes.
Usage Tips
Read the safety pre-snap to determine if you are facing one high or two high, since the seam route is your first read against single high shells where the safety has to choose between the seam and the corner.
If you see two high safeties, work the corner route first since it attacks the seam between the deep half defenders and the underneath flat defender.
Use the backside deep crosser as your man beater answer versus Cover 1 or Cover 3 man match, especially if the defense shows heavy blitz pressure pre-snap.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Slot Hook earlier in a drive to set up defenders expecting shorter routes, then hit Seam Divide off that tendency for an explosive shot play.
Best used on second or third and medium to long situations where you need a chunk gain, since the routes take time to develop and expose defenses sitting in soft zone.
