Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
686 is a five man route flood concept out of Shotgun Empty Base that stresses one side of the field with three distinct route levels. From the diagram, the two receivers to the left run deep comebacks breaking outside toward the sideline, creating a two man high low read on that side. On the right, the outside receiver runs a deep corner, the inline receiver runs a vertical seam, and the innermost slot receiver runs a shallow drag across the field to the opposite flat, giving the flood concept a checkdown option underneath. This is a man beater and Cover 3 beater built to overload one side of the field vertically while the drag gives the quarterback an escape valve versus zone drops. Primary read progression starts with the corner route, works down to the seam, then flows to the drag underneath if the deep routes are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify if the corner over your flood side outside receiver is playing off man or bailing into a zone drop, since press man leaves the corner route vulnerable to a back shoulder throw. Watch for two deep safeties rotating late into Cover 3, which signals the flat defender will be stressed by the corner and seam combo and cannot cover both. Post snap, key the underneath linebacker assigned to the drag route. If he sinks too deep chasing the seam, the drag will be wide open for an easy pitch and catch. This play struggles against Cover 4 quarters coverage since the safety on the flood side can sit on the corner route while the corner plays the seam vertically, so expect this concept to get shut down against a two high shell that does not rotate. Beware of a nano blitz off the flood side edge since the quick corner and seam routes take time to develop and pressure timed right can force a bad throw before the drag comes open.
Usage Tips
Use 686 on third and medium to long when you need a defined sideline flood to convert against man or Cover 3 shells.
Check the safety alignment pre snap. Two high safeties with corners playing outside leverage confirms Cover 3 or Cover 4, which lines up perfectly with the corner and seam combo on the flood side.
If you see man coverage indicators like a linebacker walking out to the slot, hot route the drag runner into a deeper crossing route to create more separation against trail technique.
Pair 686 with Y Cross or Inside Cross earlier in a series so the defense starts biting on shallow crossers, then hit them with the deeper corner and seam shots on 686 once they cheat their linebackers up.
Look to throw the corner route early against Cover 3 since the flat defender cannot get enough depth to undercut it, but hold the ball if you see a robber or lurk defender sitting in the throwing lane.
