Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Corner Strike out of Shotgun Bunch lines up three receivers tight to one side with a lone receiver split away. The backside single receiver runs a deep over route across the field while the bunch releases with the outside receiver working a deep corner route, the middle bunch receiver hitting a quick pivot/out breakpoint underneath, and the inside bunch receiver clearing outside on a deep out. This is a man beater built to attack off leverage: the primary read is the deep corner route from the bunch since it stresses the flat defender and any safety rotating over the top, with the backside over route serving as a full field crossing alternative if the corner is capped.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender or curl to flat player on the corner route side, if he sinks too deep or gets picked by the bunch traffic the corner route is open. Watch the free safety pre-snap, a single high safety shaded to the bunch side signals a possible cap on the corner route, forcing you to work the backside over instead. Identify man coverage by checking cornerback alignment on the bunch receivers, tight press alignment with no safety help over the top means the corner route wins immediately. Post-snap, look for a user controlled defender sitting in the middle of the field lurking on the pivot route, this indicates a robber concept designed to jump underneath routes. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner and deep third safety over the top shuts down the corner route, so if you see this shell, progress immediately to the backside over route.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check if the defense shows press man on the bunch, since the corner route wins hard against off coverage where the flat defender has to sink and carry.
Motion the backside receiver or the bunch to confirm man coverage before the snap, if the defenders shift with the motion you have a green light to attack the corner route.
Use the pivot route as your hot route answer against a blitz look, it settles underneath quickly and gives your quarterback a check down against pressure.
Pair this play with Bunch Verts or PA Divide Wheels in the same set to keep the defense honest, since both threaten the deep corner and wheel combos out of the same bunch alignment.
Best called on second or third and medium to long, where the deep corner route and over route both create explosive play windows against man leverage.
