Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Flanker Drive out of Shotgun Doubles 11 personnel shows a five man route concept with no visible extra protection, so this is a straight drop back pass. The outside receiver to the left runs a deep comeback while the slot receiver on that side climbs a vertical seam up the numbers. On the strong side, the inline receiver runs a deep dig that sits over the middle at intermediate depth, the flanker runs the namesake drive route working underneath from the opposite side across the field, and the backside receiver releases into a flat/out route. This is a Cover 4 beater by design: the dig and drive combo attacks the seams and underneath voids that quarters coverage leaves in the intermediate middle, while the comeback and vertical stress the deep quarter defenders on the boundary. Primary progression starts with the deep dig, works down to the underneath drive route crossing the field, and checks down to the flat route if the middle is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing since two safeties split deep signals Cover 4 or Cover 2, both of which this concept is built to attack. Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks with the drive route instead of widening to the flat, that confirms zone coverage and opens up the underneath flat throw. Key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sprints to the deep dig window and gets there before the ball, check down to the drive or flat route immediately. Against man coverage, look for a user controlled defender jumping the drive route crossing the field, since that lurk threat is the main way defenses shut this play down. If the defense shows a two deep shell but rotates a corner down into the flat post-snap, that usually signals a disguised blitz, so get the ball out quickly on the drive route before pressure arrives.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to third and medium when you need a chain mover over the middle of the field.
Pre-snap, identify two high safeties before the snap since Cover 4 and Cover 2 shells are where this concept shines the most.
Hot route the flat route into a shallow drag or spot route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that squat underneath the dig.
Pair this play in sequence with Flanker Dig or Y Cross from the same set so the defense has to respect both the dig and the crossing drive route out of identical formation looks.
If the user drops a linebacker deep into the throwing lane of the dig, reset your eyes immediately to the drive route since it is designed to sit in the void behind the underneath defenders and in front of the safeties.
