Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Bench Swap is a pass play out of Shotgun Deuce Close 12 personnel that floods both sides of the field with deep and intermediate routes while an in-line TE runs a shallow cross underneath. To the left, the two receivers run a deep out and a corner/go combo that stacks vertical stress on the boundary defenders. To the right, the TE releases vertical up the seam for a deep post while the swap route underneath breaks flat to the sideline, creating a high low stretch. The primary read starts with the deep TE seam route against single high safeties, then works down to the underneath swap flat route and shallow cross as the checkdown against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Look for two high shells pre-snap, if the safeties are split you will likely have to work the underneath swap and shallow cross since the deep corner and seam routes get taken away. Identify if the corner to the TE side is playing outside leverage, if he sits inside expect the seam to be open against zone drops. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the shallow cross the flat route from the swap concept becomes the easy answer. This play struggles against press man with a deep half safety rotated over since it clogs the corner route landmark, and it is vulnerable to a nano blitz up the middle since the shallow cross needs time to develop away from immediate pressure. Beware user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field, they can undercut the shallow cross if the quarterback holds the ball too long reading the deep route first.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see one high safety shaded to the seam side, take the shot on the deep TE route immediately off the catch. Use motion or a quick glance to identify man versus zone, this concept rewards man beaters on the corner and go combo since it stacks defenders vertically and creates natural rub leverage. Hot route the shallow cross into a deeper drag if you are facing heavy underneath zone traffic to clear the flat for the swap route. This play works best on second and long or third and medium since it takes time to develop the deep shots, pair it with quicker throws like Stick or RPO Counter Stick on early downs to set up the defense for the double move looks later in the drive. Sequence this behind Bench or Bench Dig Curl so the defense respects the shallow crossers, then hit them over the top with the seam and corner routes once they start jumping the underneath.
