Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Shotgun Doubles Flex sends the backside outside receiver on a deep go to clear the top of the defense while the inside slot runs a vertical seam up the numbers. The playside receiver at the top works a drive route crossing underneath, the flexed TE releases into a flat route, and the RB checks out into a short flat/angle route from the backfield, giving you a true Cover 4 beater with a five man protection. This is a pass play with progression reads flowing from the drive route across the middle to the flat combo underneath, using the vertical routes to hold safeties and open the intermediate crosser.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties pre-snap since this route combo is designed specifically to stress Cover 4 quarters defenders who have to respect the vertical stems before reacting to the drive route. Watch the flat defender and the underneath linebacker to the drive route side since a squatting zone defender or a lurking user controlled backer can jump the crossing route and bait a turnover. If the cornerback on the go route route bails immediately at the snap that signals off man or quarters, which tells you the drive route will have room to work in the intermediate area. Man coverage with a single high safety can be an issue for the flat routes since a fast slot corner or nickel defender sitting on the drive route's landmark can undercut the throw if the quarterback is late. Blitz heavy fronts that bring five or six rushers force a hot read to the flat combo immediately, so track linebacker depth and edge alignment before the snap to know if the drive route will have time to develop.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check for two high safeties sitting at depth since this concept is built to punish Cover 4 and quarters shells that widen to the go routes. Hot route the flexed TE flat to a quick out if you see man coverage with no underneath help so you have an instant answer against blitz. Use the drive route as your first read on third and medium since the crosser settles in the void vacated by quarters safeties keying vertical stems. Pair this call with Four Verticals in the same set so defenses cannot sit on the drive route without opening up the seam and go concepts. Against zone blitz looks, get the ball out on the flat route to the RB or TE quickly since the deep routes take time to develop and expose max protect to interior pressure.
